Compare towns
Calais vs Hooksett vs Middlesex vs Westford
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Westford has the most expensive homes ($425k median).
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 | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713Lowest |
15,057Highest |
1,943 |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
44.1±8.6 13% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Westford 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% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest 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%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais and Middlesex 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% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westford 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±$27kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$112,750±$12k 40% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$424,500±$21kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Westford and Hooksett 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 |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$2,375±$1kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Westford and Hooksett 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. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$6,282Lowest 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 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 min 18% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±6.9 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 | Hooksett School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.