Compare towns
Windham vs Hooksett vs Andover vs Chester
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 the most kids (17.5% under 18).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k 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 | Windham | Hooksett | Andover | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
15,057Highest |
616 |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Chester and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951 91% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$5,190 66% above U.S. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover 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 | — | #30 of 120 in NH | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Hooksett School District | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.7 |
| 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.