Compare towns
Acton vs Hooksett vs South 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
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
South Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 35.2).
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 | South Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
15,057 |
5,902Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
35.2±3.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton 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% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$130,000±$15k 61% above U.S. |
| Acton and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$433,200±$40k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,471±$217Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Acton and Hooksett 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. |
$6,801 118% 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% |
36.1%±25Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Hooksett School District | — |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | — |
| 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.