Compare towns
Acton vs Concord vs Hooksett vs Stow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Concord has the most expensive homes ($1210k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
Stow has the most homeowners (85.4%).
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 | Acton | Concord | Hooksett | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
18,223 |
5,876Lowest |
7,165 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+27.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
47.6±2Highest 22% above U.S. |
42.6±2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Concord and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Concord and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
$195,350±$22kHighest 142% above U.S. |
$101,053±$25kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$185,809±$22k 130% above U.S. |
| Concord and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
$1,210,000±$72kHighest 264% above U.S. |
$348,100±$32kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$729,600±$39k 119% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$2,631±$166Highest 86% above U.S. |
$1,811±$283 28% above U.S. |
$1,782±$126Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,960Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.2%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±44.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stow and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
36.1%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stow and Concord 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 | #13 of 282 in MA | #10 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Concord · Concord-Carlisle | — | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Concord Carlisle High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.4Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.