Compare towns
Hooksett vs Mason vs Webster vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($723k 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 | Hooksett | Mason | Webster | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
1,451Lowest |
2,227 |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
+2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
44.7±7.6Highest 3% above NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
| Webster and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±8 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Mason and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±1.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Webster and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% NH: 40.6% |
39.5% NH: 40.6% |
30.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$111,090±$3k 12% above NH |
$107,171±$14kLowest 8% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$384,000±$21k 5% below NH |
$338,500±$30kLowest 16% below NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$2,530±$852 70% above NH |
$1,396±$622Lowest 6% below NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
| Windham and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 about the NH average |
$7,049 6% above NH |
$6,021Lowest 10% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
53.6%±71 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
9.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
31 min 14% above NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
17.1%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Windham and Mason 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 |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Mason School District | Merrimack Valley School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.