Compare towns
Hudson vs Windham vs Wells 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 housing (typical home built 1983).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
Wells has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
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 | Wells | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,557Highest |
16,038 |
11,713Lowest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±1.9 17% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 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. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $438,900±$11k 32% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,735±$123 23% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,636 113% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #22 of 133 in ME | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hudson School District | Windham School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Alvirne High School | Windham High School | Wells High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
12.8Highest |
11.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.