Compare towns
Gray vs Hooksett vs West Bath vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
West Bath has the oldest population (median age 54.2).
Windham has the most people working from home (19%).
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 | Gray | Hooksett | West Bath | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,429 |
15,057 |
1,863Lowest |
19,188Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
54.2±5.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,236±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$103,333±$27k 28% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$422,800±$102kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
| West Bath and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,112±$327Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,683 18% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$3,516Lowest 13% above U.S. |
$3,938 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and West Bath 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 | #10 of 133 in ME | #30 of 120 in NH | — | #95 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Hooksett School District | West Bath Public Schools | RSU 14 |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | None in town | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
— | — | 12.1Lowest |
| 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.