Compare towns
Chittenden vs Hooksett vs Windham vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chittenden has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Hooksett has the most renters (19.4% rent).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($723k median).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Chittenden | Hooksett | Windham | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,318Lowest |
15,057 |
16,038Highest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3 31% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,250±$28kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,800±$35kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$488Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,346Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,149 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Strafford 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 | Hooksett School District | Windham School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.