Compare towns
Pepperell vs Windham vs Hooksett vs Douglas
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pepperell has the oldest housing (typical home built 1981).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Douglas has the oldest population (median age 44).
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 | Pepperell | Windham | Hooksett | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663 |
16,038Highest |
15,057 |
9,207Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
44±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pepperell and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10k 89% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698 115% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,338Lowest 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Douglas 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Windham School District | Hooksett School District | Douglas |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
— | 7.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.