Compare towns
Hooksett vs Williston vs Windham vs Plaistow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
Plaistow has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
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 | Williston | Windham | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
10,144 |
16,038Highest |
7,861Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Williston and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Plaistow 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% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 110% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,194 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plaistow and Windham 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% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #13 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Windham School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.