Compare towns
Hooksett vs Walden vs Wilton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
Walden has the most affordable homes ($239k median).
Wilton has the highest household income ($114k).
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 | Hooksett | Walden | Wilton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,876Highest |
1,037Lowest |
3,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2Highest 25% above U.S. |
46.8±5.2 20% above U.S. |
| Walden and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hooksett and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±6.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,053±$25k 25% above U.S. |
$88,000±$15kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$114,349±$21kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Wilton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $348,100±$32k 5% above U.S. |
$238,900±$23kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$381,500±$23kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Wilton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,811±$283Highest 28% above U.S. |
$900±$136Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$1,382±$70 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,960 59% above U.S. |
$3,944Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$7,612Highest 144% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.1%±39.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walden and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walden and Wilton 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 | — | #54 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Wilton-Lyndeboro Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.1 |
| 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.