Compare towns
Ashland vs Hooksett vs Stoneham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Stoneham has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
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 | Ashland | Hooksett | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,873 |
15,057Lowest |
23,355Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±1.4 8% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Highest 8% above U.S. |
| Stoneham and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stoneham and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stoneham and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $127,539±$11kHighest 58% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Ashland and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $611,700±$18k 84% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,452±$298Highest 74% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142 44% above U.S. |
| Ashland and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,444Highest 139% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,523Lowest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.2%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashland and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stoneham and Ashland 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 | #42 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashland | Hooksett School District | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Ashland High | None in town | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| 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.