Compare towns
Ashby vs Atkinson vs Hooksett vs Becket
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashby has the oldest housing (typical home built 1970).
Atkinson has the most expensive homes ($555k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Becket has the most affordable homes ($361k 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 | Ashby | Atkinson | Hooksett | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,211 |
7,267 |
15,057Highest |
1,962Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 30% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
49.6±4.7 28% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Hooksett and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Atkinson and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9k 43% above U.S. |
$146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$80,417±$29kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Atkinson and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30k 17% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$361,000±$82kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$2,107±$1kHighest 49% above U.S. |
| Becket and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034 93% above U.S. |
$6,918Highest 122% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$3,047Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Atkinson and Ashby 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 | #200 of 282 in MA | #32 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | North Middlesex | Timberlane Regional School District | Hooksett School District | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.