Compare towns
Townsend vs Hooksett vs Windham vs Lunenburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
Lunenburg has the oldest population (median age 43.2).
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 | Townsend | Hooksett | Windham | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100Lowest |
15,057 |
16,038Highest |
11,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
43.2±2.1Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lunenburg and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$112,828±$11kLowest 40% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$463,900±$24k 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,974±$586 40% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,401 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Lunenburg 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH | #87 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Hooksett School District | Windham School District | Lunenburg |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | Windham High School | Lunenburg High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 12.8 |
12.4Lowest |
| 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.