Compare towns
Windham vs Hooksett vs Augusta vs Bedford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Augusta has the most affordable homes ($201k median).
Bedford has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Hooksett | Augusta | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038 |
15,057Lowest |
19,077 |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
42.5±2.4 9% above U.S. |
45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Augusta and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$167,418±$12k 107% above U.S. |
| Windham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$612,100±$26k 84% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$2,099±$274 49% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$9,803 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bedford and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #119 of 133 in ME | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Hooksett School District | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | Cony | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
— | 17.9Highest |
13.5 |
| 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.