Compare towns
Middlesex vs Calais vs Hooksett vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($274k 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 | Middlesex | Calais | Hooksett | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
1,713Lowest |
15,057Highest |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$273,600±$31kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,169±$171Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 108% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Calais 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 | — | — | #30 of 120 in NH | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Hooksett School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.