Compare towns
Calais vs Middlesex vs Hooksett vs Worcester
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).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Middlesex | Hooksett | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
1,943 |
15,057Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest 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% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 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% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Calais 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. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Middlesex 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. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Calais 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 |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% 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. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Worcester 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 | Hooksett School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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 | 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.