Compare towns
Chester vs Cornish vs Hooksett vs Windsor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most expensive homes ($552k median).
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k 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 | Chester | Cornish | Hooksett | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,300 |
1,816Lowest |
15,057Highest |
3,554 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8 21% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.8±6.5 15% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Chester and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $142,212±$19kHighest 76% above U.S. |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Chester and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$207,500±$31kLowest 38% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,026±$89Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464Highest 171% above U.S. |
$5,796 86% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$5,209Lowest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.5%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hooksett and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chester and Hooksett 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 | #90 of 120 in NH | — | #30 of 120 in NH | #61 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Chester School District | Cornish School District | Hooksett School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.