Compare towns
Needham vs Windham vs Hooksett vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Needham | Windham | Hooksett | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
16,038 |
15,057Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19k 135% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Windham School District | Hooksett School District | — |
| High school in town | Needham High | Windham High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— | — |
| 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.