Compare towns
Worcester vs Hooksett vs Stowe vs Calais
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 affordable homes ($271k median).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Calais has the most homeowners (92.4%).
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 | Hooksett | Stowe | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
15,057Highest |
5,285 |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6 19% above U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stowe and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33k 16% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,458±$242 3% above U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
| Hooksett and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$7,161Highest 130% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stowe and Worcester 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 | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Hooksett School District | Stowe Town School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Stowe High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.3 |
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| 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.