Compare towns
Hooksett vs Jay vs Windham vs Manchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($723k median).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
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 | Jay | Windham | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
471Lowest |
16,038 |
115,643Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
38±1Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Jay and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hooksett and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$81,007±$2k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$365,600±$7k 10% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
— | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,564±$37Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 110% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,922 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±3.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
48.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | #115 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Windham School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School | Manchester Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8Lowest |
14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.