Compare towns
Mason vs Windham vs Hooksett vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($723k median).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k 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 | Mason | Windham | Hooksett | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,451Lowest |
16,038Highest |
15,057 |
2,227 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
44.7±7.6Highest 3% above NH |
| Webster and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±8 NH: 18.2% |
| Mason and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±1.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Webster and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.5% NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
30.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,090±$3k 12% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$107,171±$14kLowest 8% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,000±$21k 5% below NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$338,500±$30kLowest 16% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,530±$852 70% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,396±$622Lowest 6% below NH |
| Windham and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,049 6% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$6,021Lowest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
53.6%±71 NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
9.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 53% above NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
31 min 14% above NH |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.1%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Windham and Mason 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Mason School District | Windham School District | Hooksett School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.