Compare towns
Hooksett vs Windham vs Chester
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 most affordable homes ($407k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
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 | Windham | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057 |
16,038Highest |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Chester 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Lowest 11% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,464 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Windham and Hooksett 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% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Lowest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1991 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
31 min 15% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Windham and Chester 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 | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Windham School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.