Compare towns
Braintree vs Charleston vs Hooksett vs Randolph
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Charleston has the most homeowners (87.1%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Randolph has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Braintree | Charleston | Hooksett | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
936Lowest |
15,057Highest |
4,843 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
58.4±9.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
40.4±7.4Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Hooksett and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
37.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Charleston and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
13.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Randolph and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
$49,286±$17kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$76,758±$6k 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$238,000±$53k 28% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$979±$444 31% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908 25% above U.S. |
$3,750Lowest 20% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$4,698 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±26.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Randolph and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Braintree and Charleston 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 | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Charleston School District | Hooksett School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.4 |
| 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.