Compare towns
Hudson vs Windham vs Plainfield vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hudson has the oldest population (median age 45.7).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($723k median).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Windham | Plainfield | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,557Highest |
16,038 |
2,522Lowest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.7±1.9Highest 6% above NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Hudson and Plainfield 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 NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| 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 25% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $438,900±$11k 9% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,735±$123 16% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,661±$206Lowest 11% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,636 about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.3%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 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 | 4.6% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Windham and Hudson 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 | #63 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hudson School District | Windham School District | Plainfield School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Alvirne High School | Windham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.