Compare towns
Putney vs Hooksett vs Calais vs Randolph
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
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 | Putney | Hooksett | Calais | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
15,057Highest |
1,713Lowest |
4,843 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
42±8.6Highest 8% above U.S. |
40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
| Calais and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Randolph and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$278,700±$38kLowest 16% 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 | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,172±$173 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 | $5,313 70% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$4,698Lowest 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais and Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #30 of 120 in NH | — | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Hooksett School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.