Compare towns
Walden 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
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Wells has the oldest population (median age 50.7).
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 | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,037Lowest |
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 | 48.8±3.2 25% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Wells 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%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Hooksett and Wells 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% |
24.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Walden 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% |
29.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,000±$15k 9% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,900±$23kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$243,000±$42k 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$136Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,313±$282 7% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944 26% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$3,308Lowest 6% 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% |
62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells 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% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walden 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | 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.