Compare towns
Durham vs Hooksett vs West Gardiner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the most people working from home (20.9%).
Hooksett has the most expensive homes ($407k median).
West Gardiner has the shortest commute (24 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 | Durham | Hooksett | West Gardiner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,262 |
15,057Highest |
3,696Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9 10% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.5±2.8Highest 12% above U.S. |
| West Gardiner and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Durham and West Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±5.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and West Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,181±$5k 23% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$96,172±$30kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,200±$34k 3% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$305,100±$42kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,087±$150Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,781 21% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$2,282Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±9.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| West Gardiner and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Lowest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and West Gardiner 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 | #14 of 133 in ME | #30 of 120 in NH | #90 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Hooksett School District | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| 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.