Compare towns
Acton vs Hooksett vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Hooksett | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155 |
5,876Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+27.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.6±2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| Acton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham 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% |
20.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hooksett and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Needham 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. |
$101,053±$25kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
$348,100±$32kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$1,811±$283Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $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% |
46%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Acton 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% |
4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Needham 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | — | Needham |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | — | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 11.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.