Compare towns

Windham vs Hooksett 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 people working from home (20.5%).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
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.

MeasureWindhamHooksettChester
People
Population
594Lowest
15,057Highest
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.
49.7±4.7Highest
28% above U.S.
Chester and Windham 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%
14.1%±4.7Lowest
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%
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%
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%
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.
$62,125±$8kLowest
23% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$353,900±$20k
6% above U.S.
$407,000±$26kHighest
22% above U.S.
$232,900±$44kLowest
30% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,661±$206Highest
18% above U.S.
$960±$44Lowest
32% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,951
91% above U.S.
$6,554Highest
110% 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%±16.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
11.5%±12.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hooksett and Windham 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%
7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%Lowest
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.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
Work from home
20.5%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±6.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Windham and Chester 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
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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.