Compare towns
Windsor vs Hooksett vs Durham vs Brighton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Windsor | Hooksett | Durham | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,060 |
15,057 |
15,080Highest |
1,167Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±12.3 15% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
45.2±11.6Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Brighton and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±8.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Windsor and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $51,197±$4k 37% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Durham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $170,300±$22k 49% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,002±$107 29% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878 56% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±20Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
22%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and Hooksett 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 | #61 of 70 in VT | #30 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Hooksett School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Brighton School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.