Compare towns

Walpole vs Hooksett vs Milton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Walpole has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Milton has the most expensive homes ($933k median).

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.

MeasureWalpoleHooksettMilton
People
Population
26,388
15,057Lowest
28,587Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.9±1.2Lowest
5% above U.S.
41.3±1.5Highest
6% above U.S.
41.1±1.8
6% above U.S.
Hooksett and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
25.1%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
25.3%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Milton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.9%±1.7
U.S.: 17.2%
17.3%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.1%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hooksett and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
67.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
71.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
8.9%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
9.7%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Milton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$171,500±$16k
112% above U.S.
$117,962±$11kLowest
46% above U.S.
$188,529±$15kHighest
134% above U.S.
Milton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$687,100±$20k
107% above U.S.
$407,000±$26kLowest
22% above U.S.
$933,200±$31kHighest
180% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,205±$222Highest
56% above U.S.
$1,661±$206
18% above U.S.
$1,474±$281Lowest
4% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,523
173% above U.S.
$6,554Lowest
110% above U.S.
$9,677Highest
210% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.8%±9.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±16.4
U.S.: 51.1%
45.7%±20.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Milton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1945Lowest
35 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
31 min
19% above U.S.
Work from home
28.2%±4.3
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
29.7%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Milton and Walpole 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 #107 of 282 in MA #30 of 120 in NH #55 of 282 in MA
School district Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole Hooksett School District Milton
High school in town Walpole High None in town Milton High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.3Lowest
—
12.4Highest
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.