Compare towns
Acton vs Hooksett vs Hudson
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 expensive homes ($807k median).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Hudson has the oldest population (median age 45.7).
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 | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155 |
15,057Lowest |
25,557Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.7±1.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Hudson and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hudson and Acton 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% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$124,213±$6k 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$438,900±$11k 32% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$1,735±$123 23% above U.S. |
| Acton and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$6,636 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Hooksett 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #63 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Hooksett School District | Hudson School District |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | Alvirne High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 11.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.