Compare towns
Grafton vs Hooksett vs Windham vs Waltham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Grafton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Windham has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
Waltham has the most affordable homes ($330k 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 | Grafton | Hooksett | Windham | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 666 |
15,057Highest |
594 |
452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 59.2±4.4 52% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Waltham and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 5.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±7.4 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+ | 34.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
45.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
39%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±5 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 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 | $76,111±$7kLowest 6% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$97,500±$14k 21% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,200±$85k 3% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$329,700±$51kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,288±$174 9% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
— | $1,096±$113Lowest 22% 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 | $4,843Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
$5,714 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±69.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±58.6Lowest 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 | 4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waltham and Windham 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 | Athens Grafton School District | Hooksett School District | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | — |
| 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.