Compare towns
Wells vs Manchester vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wells has the most expensive homes ($485k median).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Wells | Manchester | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,713 |
115,643Highest |
5,876Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+27.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
38±1Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.6±2 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Manchester and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,024±$11k 9% above U.S. |
$81,007±$2kLowest about the U.S. average |
$101,053±$25kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$365,600±$7k 10% above U.S. |
$348,100±$32kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,564±$37 11% above U.S. |
$1,811±$283Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$5,922Highest 90% above U.S. |
$4,960 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Manchester and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wells and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 133 in ME | #115 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | — |
| High school in town | Wells High School | Manchester Memorial High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
14.3Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.