Compare towns
Benson vs Hooksett vs Westmore vs Orwell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Westmore has the most homeowners (88.2%).
Orwell has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Benson | Hooksett | Westmore | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
15,057Highest |
465Lowest |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
51.5±11.5 32% above U.S. |
47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
| Benson and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Orwell and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westmore and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$87,188±$11k 8% above U.S. |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$330,000±$137k about the U.S. average |
$335,600±$25k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,050±$820Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,105±$51 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 32% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$5,357 72% above U.S. |
$3,914Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
35%±94.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Westmore 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Hooksett School District | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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.