The Town Files

Hooksett, New Hampshire

Town in Merrimack County · population 14,871 (2020 Census)

Map: where Hooksett is in New HampshireHooksett
Median home
$407,000
Household income
$117,962
Jan low / Jul high
13° / 81°
Snow a year
53 in
Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
5
Median age
41.3

Hooksett is a town of 14,871 people in Merrimack County, New Hampshire. The median home is worth $407,000, above the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). It ranks more of a college town than 94% of New Hampshire towns, better for young professionals than 91% of New Hampshire towns, more vibrant than 87% of New Hampshire towns.

How Hooksett ranks

Percentile among New Hampshire towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Hampshire towns.

Hooksett lifestyle rankings vs other New Hampshire townsRetirement23rd pctFamilies63rd pctQuiet8th pctWalkability55th pctFirst-time buyersbottomYoung professionals91st pctVibrancy87th pctHip & trendy12th pctCollege town94th pctUpscale69th pctVacation homesbottomSeaside characterbottomCycling76th pctTransitbottomDriving41st pcttypical
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025).

Homes and cost of living

The median home in Hooksett is worth $407,000, above the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $117,962, which is more affordable than 65% of New Hampshire towns. Median rent is $1,661 a month. 80.6% of households own their home.

Hooksett vs Merrimack County vs typical New Hampshire townHooksettMerrimack CountyTypical New Hampshire townHome value$407,000$367,600$357,650Household income$117,962$97,004$94,107Monthly rent$1,661$1,360$1,285
Census ACS 5-year estimates, 2020–2024. "Typical town" = median of New Hampshire towns with 500+ people.
HousingHooksettTypical New Hampshire town
Median home value$407,000$357,650
Median rent$1,661$1,285
Median household income$117,962$94,107
Home value ÷ income3.5×3.8×
Homeownership80.6%82.1%
Median year built19881978
Seasonal / vacation homes0.5%—

Who lives in Hooksett

PeopleHooksettTypical New Hampshire town
Median age41.346.3
Age 65 and over17.3%22.3%
Under 1817.4%—
Bachelor's degree or higher39.6%36.8%
Below the poverty line3.3%7.2%
Veterans6.8%—
Born outside the U.S.3.2%—
Work from home13.4%14.2%
Average commute26.9 min27.1 min
Homes with broadband94.6%92.5%

Weather in Hooksett

July highs average 81.1°F and January lows 13.0°F. About 42.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 52.8 inches of snow (typical New Hampshire town: 67.7 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 161 nights at or below freezing.

Hooksett monthly temperatures and precipitation10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32° freezing32°13°Jan35°15°Feb43°24°Mar56°35°Apr67°46°May76°56°Jun81°61°Jul80°59°Aug73°52°Sep60°40°Oct48°30°Nov38°21°DecPrecipitation (in) · snow (in) in blue2.715.92.717.63.26.73.50.93.44.33.63.73.94.43.51.13.810.6
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals: average daily high and low by month; precipitation and snowfall in inches. Temperatures from the Massabesic Lake station (6.9 mi away).

Tornadoes, storms and disasters

5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hooksett since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New Hampshire town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 24, 2008 about 8.7 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 2 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 24, 2008.

Tornadoes within 10 miles of Hooksett by decade11950s31960s01970s01980s01990s12000s02010s02020s
NOAA Storm Events Database, tornado tracks (start to end point) passing within 10 miles of the town center, 1950–2026.

Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 42 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 9, 2007.

Severe weather in Merrimack County since 1996

Storm events in Merrimack County since 1996 by typeHail97Flood81Drought21High Wind22Lightning20Heavy Snow116Flash Flood30Strong Wind31
NOAA Storm Events Database, Merrimack County, 1996–2026 (all event types recorded since 1996). 1 deaths recorded.

Merrimack County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
April 3, 2020BiologicalDR-4516: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3445: Covid-19
January 2, 2018Severe StormDR-4355: Severe Storm And Flooding
March 19, 2013Severe StormDR-4105: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm
October 30, 2012HurricaneEM-3360: Hurricane Sandy

Jobs and pay in Merrimack County

Merrimack County had 77,147 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $68,857 a year. Unemployment was 1.9% in 2023; in Hooksett itself the ACS puts it at 2.5%.

Largest industries in Merrimack CountyHealth care & social assistan…11,818 jobs · $71,553Retail8,949 jobs · $44,080Manufacturing5,577 jobs · $77,753Hotels & restaurants5,422 jobs · $29,221Construction3,927 jobs · $82,830Wholesale trade3,912 jobs · $94,952
BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024, private-sector jobs and average annual pay.
Unemployment rate in Merrimack County, 2000–20230%2%4%6%2000200420082012201620202023Merrimack 1.9%
Annual average unemployment rate (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics via USDA ERS).

Public schools in Hooksett

3 public schools with 1,268 students, about 12.7 students per teacher.

SchoolGradesStudentsPer teacher
Hooksett Memorial School3-542714.7
David R. Cawley Middle School6-842210.6
Fred C. Underhill SchoolPK-241913.5

Towns near Hooksett

Hooksett questions

Is Hooksett, New Hampshire a good place to retire?

On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hooksett scores better for retirees than 23% of New Hampshire towns and quieter than 8%. 17.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.3).

How much does a house cost in Hooksett?

The median owner-occupied home in Hooksett is valued at $407,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $117,962, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $1,661 a month.

What is the weather like in Hooksett?

July highs average 81.1°F and January lows 13.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.5 inches of precipitation a year and 52.8 inches of snow.

Does Hooksett get tornadoes?

5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hooksett since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 24, 2008. The typical New Hampshire town has had 5.

How this page is made. Every number comes from public data, matched to Hooksett's Census boundary (GEOID 3301337300). Comparisons use the median of New Hampshire towns with at least 500 people. Weather comes from the nearest NOAA normals station; storm counts use NOAA tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center. Data snapshot 2026-11-13.