Compare towns
Wells vs Hooksett vs Walden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wells has the oldest population (median age 50.7).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
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 | Wells | Hooksett | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,148 |
15,057Highest |
1,037Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2Highest 30% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2 25% 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 | 15.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest 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+ | 24.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6 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+ | 29.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,417±$11kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$88,000±$15k 9% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$42k 27% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$238,900±$23kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$282 7% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$900±$136Lowest 36% 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 | $3,308Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$3,944 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8 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 | 15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7Highest 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 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Hooksett School District | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| 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.