Compare towns
Charleston vs Hooksett vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Charleston has the most people working from home (18.7%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($222k 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 | Charleston | Hooksett | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 936Lowest |
15,057Highest |
957 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±9.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
50.3±5.3 29% above U.S. |
| Charleston and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Hooksett and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 37.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $49,286±$17kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$71,302±$13k 12% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,000±$53k 28% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$222,000±$22kLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $979±$444Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,330±$153 6% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,750 20% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$3,545Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±26.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hooksett and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Charleston and Orange 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 | Charleston School District | Hooksett School District | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| 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 |
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.