Compare towns
Hudson vs Needham vs Windham vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hudson has the oldest population (median age 45.7).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k 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 | Hudson | Needham | Windham | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,557 |
32,459Highest |
16,038 |
15,057Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±1.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
| Hudson and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hudson and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,213±$6k 54% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19k 135% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
| Needham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $438,900±$11k 32% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,735±$123 23% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,636 113% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #63 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hudson School District | Needham | Windham School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Alvirne High School | Needham High | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
11.9 |
12.8Highest |
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| 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.