Compare towns
Hooksett vs Windham vs Reading vs Allenstown
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).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Allenstown has the most affordable homes ($244k 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 | Windham | Reading | Allenstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
594Lowest |
699 |
4,743 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
39.4±4.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Allenstown and Reading 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% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±3.8Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±0.7Lowest 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±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$72,500±$21kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$243,600±$69kLowest 27% below 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. |
$1,281±$397 9% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Allenstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$4,098Lowest 31% 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% |
57.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Allenstown 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9%Highest 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% |
80.9% 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. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest 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 | Allenstown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 8 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.