Compare towns
Windham vs Hanover vs Hooksett vs Hudson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most kids (27.4% under 18).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Hudson has the oldest population (median age 45.7).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Windham | Hanover | Hooksett | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038 |
8,479Lowest |
15,057 |
25,557Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
45.7±1.9Highest 6% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
16.8%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hudson and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7% NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
34.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
$124,213±$6k 25% above NH |
| Windham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50k 80% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$438,900±$11k 9% above NH |
| Hanover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$2,254±$249 51% above NH |
$1,661±$206Lowest 11% above NH |
$1,735±$123 16% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$6,636 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
82.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 15% above NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
31 minHighest 18% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.6%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #63 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | — | Hooksett School District | Hudson School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | — | None in town | Alvirne High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | — | 11.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.