Compare towns

Hooksett vs Windham vs Reading

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 the highest household income ($118k).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($354k median).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).

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.

MeasureHooksettWindhamReading
People
Population
15,057Highest
594Lowest
699
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.3±1.5Lowest
6% above U.S.
44.2±7.4
14% above U.S.
51.1±7.6Highest
31% above U.S.
Reading and Windham 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%
17.5%±7.9
U.S.: 22%
18.5%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Reading and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.3%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.2%±8.1
U.S.: 17.2%
28.2%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Reading and Windham 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
U.S.: 35.7%
48.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
46%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$117,962±$11kHighest
46% above U.S.
$94,500±$12k
17% above U.S.
$85,000±$19kLowest
5% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$407,000±$26kHighest
22% above U.S.
$353,900±$20kLowest
6% above U.S.
$377,200±$72k
13% above U.S.
Hooksett and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,661±$206Highest
18% above U.S.
—
$1,100±$331Lowest
22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,554Highest
110% above U.S.
$5,951
91% above U.S.
$5,754Lowest
84% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.7%±16.4
U.S.: 51.1%
41.2%±94Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
63.3%±31.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Reading and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
Work from home
13.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
22.9%±10.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Reading 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 — —
School district Hooksett School District — Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
High school in town None in town — None in town
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.