Compare towns
Worcester vs Windham vs Hooksett vs West Boylston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most renters (57.2% rent).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($723k median).
West Boylston has the oldest population (median age 45.5).
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 | Worcester | Windham | Hooksett | West Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
16,038 |
15,057 |
7,782Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
45.5±2.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
| West Boylston and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 13.3%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$104,551±$12k 30% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$440,000±$24k 32% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38 5% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,261±$154Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733Lowest 52% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,115 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.9%±12.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Worcester and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and West Boylston 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #97 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Windham School District | Hooksett School District | West Boylston |
| High school in town | South High Community | Windham High School | None in town | West Boylston Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
12.8 |
— | 10.6Lowest |
| 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.