Compare towns
West Windsor vs Hooksett vs Reading vs Chittenden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Windsor has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Chittenden has the most affordable homes ($347k 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.
| Measure | West Windsor | Hooksett | Reading | Chittenden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,171 |
5,876Highest |
699Lowest |
1,318 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +22.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+27.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54±5.9Highest 39% above U.S. |
42.6±2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
50.8±6.3 31% above U.S. |
| West Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±10Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| West Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±6.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,750±$18kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$101,053±$25k 25% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$106,250±$28k 32% above U.S. |
| West Windsor and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $393,500±$41kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$348,100±$32k 5% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$346,800±$35kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| West Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,811±$283Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,125±$488 20% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,860Highest 88% above U.S. |
$4,960Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$5,346 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
14.8%±55.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and West Windsor 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 | Mount Ascutney School District #86 | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 |
| 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 | 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.