Compare towns
Chester vs Hooksett vs Windham vs Grafton
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 affordable homes ($233k median).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Grafton has the oldest population (median age 59.2).
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 | Hooksett | Windham | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
15,057Highest |
594Lowest |
666 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
59.2±4.4Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Grafton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$76,111±$7k 6% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$343,200±$85k 3% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
— | $1,288±$174 9% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
$4,843 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±69.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Grafton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Grafton 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 | #49 of 70 in VT | #30 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Hooksett School District | — | Athens Grafton School District |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.