Compare towns
Athens vs Hooksett vs Whiting vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athens has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Hooksett has the most expensive homes ($407k median).
Whiting has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Waterville has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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 | Athens | Hooksett | Whiting | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 431Lowest |
15,057Highest |
532 |
680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 22% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
39.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Waterville and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Whiting and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Athens and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,438±$30kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$91,250±$38k 13% above U.S. |
$71,250±$27k 12% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$32k 28% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$280,400±$36k 16% below U.S. |
$236,300±$15kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537 20% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,204±$519 15% below U.S. |
$1,110±$93Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438 74% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$4,227 36% above U.S. |
$3,957Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±37.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whiting and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 36% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Athens 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 | — | #30 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | — | Hooksett School District | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.