Compare towns
Athol vs Hardwick 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
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Hardwick has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
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 | Athol | Hardwick | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011 |
2,684Lowest |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Hardwick and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hooksett and Athol 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 | #256 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Quabbin | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Athol High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
— | — |
| 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.