Compare towns
Ashby vs Freetown vs 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
Ashby has the most people working from home (17.8%).
Freetown has the most expensive homes ($518k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Freetown | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
9,285 |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
40.9±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Freetown and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$143,884±$15kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
| Freetown 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±$30kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$518,200±$30kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,891±$363Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
| Freetown 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. |
$5,188Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.2%±12.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hooksett and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby and Hooksett 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 | #161 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Middlesex | Freetown-Lakeville | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.