Compare towns
Calais vs Hooksett vs Middlesex vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Hooksett has the most renters (27.5% rent).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Windham has the shortest commute (27 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 | Calais | Hooksett | Middlesex | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
5,876Highest |
1,943 |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+27.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
42.6±2 10% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$101,053±$25k 25% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$348,100±$32kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,811±$283Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
— |
| Hooksett and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$4,960Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Calais 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school 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.