Compare towns
Acton vs Hooksett vs Carlisle vs Concord
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 renters (25.1% rent).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Carlisle has the highest household income ($250k).
Concord has the most expensive homes ($1210k 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 | Carlisle | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
15,057 |
5,239Lowest |
18,223 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.3±3.1 16% above U.S. |
47.6±2Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Concord and Carlisle 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% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Carlisle and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Concord and Carlisle 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% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
87.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$195,350±$22k 142% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$1,103,900±$46k 232% above U.S. |
$1,210,000±$72kHighest 264% above U.S. |
| Concord and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,313±$855Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$2,631±$166Highest 86% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
77%±21.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.2%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Carlisle and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
38.5%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.1%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Carlisle 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #24 of 282 in MA | #10 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Hooksett School District | Carlisle | Concord · Concord-Carlisle |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | None in town | Concord Carlisle High |
| 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.