Compare towns
Abington vs Ayer vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Abington has the most expensive homes ($540k median).
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Abington | Ayer | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,053Highest |
8,645Lowest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.1±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.2±2.8 about the U.S. average |
41.3±1.5Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Abington and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hooksett and Ayer 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% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,400±$12kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
| Abington and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $539,600±$34kHighest 62% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,724±$250Highest 22% above U.S. |
$1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
| Abington and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,045Highest 126% above U.S. |
$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Abington and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 15.1%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Abington 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 | #143 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Abington | Ayer Shirley School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Abington High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
11.5Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 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.