Compare towns
Hampden vs Hooksett vs Windham vs Orrington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Orrington has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
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 | Hampden | Hooksett | Windham | Orrington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,896 |
15,057 |
19,188Highest |
3,853Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
49.5±3.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orrington and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,959±$13k 39% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$94,556±$10kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$309,000±$49k 7% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$317 9% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$1,167±$135Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,694 18% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$3,938 26% above U.S. |
$2,823Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.2%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.9%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hooksett and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampden 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 | #6 of 133 in ME | #30 of 120 in NH | #95 of 133 in ME | #41 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 22 | Hooksett School District | RSU 14 | Orrington Public Schools |
| High school in town | Hampden Academy | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
— | 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.