Compare towns

Orange vs Hooksett vs Wells

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Orange has the most affordable homes ($222k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Wells has the most homeowners (93.4%).

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.

MeasureOrangeHooksettWells
People
Population
957Lowest
15,057Highest
1,148
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.3±5.3
29% above U.S.
41.3±1.5Lowest
6% above U.S.
50.7±5.2Highest
30% above U.S.
Wells and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.6%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.1%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Hooksett and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.4%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
17.3%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.5%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Wells and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
29.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
8.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$71,302±$13kLowest
12% below U.S.
$117,962±$11kHighest
46% above U.S.
$75,417±$11k
7% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$222,000±$22kLowest
33% below U.S.
$407,000±$26kHighest
22% above U.S.
$243,000±$42k
27% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,330±$153
6% below U.S.
$1,661±$206Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,313±$282Lowest
7% below U.S.
Hooksett and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,545
14% above U.S.
$6,554Highest
110% above U.S.
$3,308Lowest
6% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±87Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±16.4
U.S.: 51.1%
62.5%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Wells and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
15.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
48 minHighest
80% above U.S.
Work from home
13.5%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
11.3%±6.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Orange and Hooksett 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 —
School district Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 Hooksett School District Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.