Compare towns

Manchester vs South Hooksett vs Windham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
South Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 35.2).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).

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.

MeasureManchesterSouth HooksettWindham
People
Population
115,643Highest
5,902Lowest
16,038
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.5%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+8.7%
NH: +4.6%
+16.4%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
38±1
12% below NH
35.2±3.6Lowest
19% below NH
41.1±2.9Highest
5% below NH
Windham and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18%±1
NH: 18.2%
16.3%±3.9Lowest
NH: 18.2%
27.4%±3.3Highest
NH: 18.2%
Age 65+
15.5%±0.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
13.5%±2.6Lowest
NH: 20.1%
15.5%±2.6Highest
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
37.9%
NH: 40.6%
62.7%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.4%±0.7
NH: 6%
14.3%±0.8Highest
NH: 6%
3.8%±1.8Lowest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$81,007±$2kLowest
18% below NH
$130,000±$15k
31% above NH
$189,583±$19kHighest
91% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$365,600±$7kLowest
9% below NH
$433,200±$40k
8% above NH
$723,300±$50kHighest
80% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,564±$37
5% above NH
$1,471±$217Lowest
about the NH average
$3,218±$350Highest
116% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,922Lowest
11% below NH
$6,801
about the NH average
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50%±3.6
NH: 48.2%
36.1%±25Lowest
NH: 48.2%
52.2%±50.9Highest
NH: 48.2%
Windham and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.2%Highest
NH: 7.2%
4%
NH: 7.2%
2%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
48.7%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
82.9%
NH: 72.8%
93.9%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1966Lowest
13 yrs older than NH
1985
6 yrs newer than NH
1996Highest
17 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
10% below NH
26 min
about the NH average
31 minHighest
15% above NH
Work from home
14.1%±1.3
NH: 16.8%
7.1%±2.4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
21.9%±4.4Highest
NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #115 of 120 in NH — #13 of 120 in NH
School district Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District — Windham School District
High school in town Manchester Memorial High School — Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school
14.3Highest
—
12.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.