Compare towns
Ashby vs Holbrook vs Hooksett vs Townsend
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%).
Holbrook has the most expensive homes ($465k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Holbrook | Hooksett | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
11,380 |
15,057Highest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
42.8±3.2 10% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Holbrook and Townsend 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% |
19.1%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Holbrook 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% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9k 43% above U.S. |
$115,210±$14kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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. |
$465,400±$21kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
| Holbrook and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
$1,094±$423Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Townsend 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. |
$6,105 96% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Holbrook 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% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | #234 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Holbrook | Hooksett School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Holbrook Middle High School | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Highest |
— | 13.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.