Compare towns
Walden vs Hooksett vs Hardwick vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Topsham has the most kids (18% under 18).
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 | Walden | Hooksett | Hardwick | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,037 |
15,057Highest |
2,965 |
999Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 25% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
47.1±7.4 21% above U.S. |
50.1±5.9Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Topsham and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,000±$15k 9% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$92,297±$17k 14% above U.S. |
$72,308±$60kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,900±$23k 28% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$184,700±$39kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$222,900±$56k 33% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$136 36% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$875±$406Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$908±$398 36% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$4,351 39% above U.S. |
$4,006 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±41.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
91.9%±28.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Topsham and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walden and Topsham 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 | #68 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Hooksett School District | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hazen Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.6 |
— |
| 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.