Compare towns
Athol vs Hardwick vs Hooksett vs Orange
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1953).
Hardwick has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k 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 | Athol | Hardwick | Hooksett | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011 |
2,684Lowest |
15,057Highest |
7,573 |
| 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% |
-3.4% 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. |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
| Hardwick and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Athol 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% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest 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±$5k 14% below U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below 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±$119 22% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$4,136 33% 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%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest 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% |
70% 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. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest 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 | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Quabbin | Hooksett School District | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | Athol High | None in town | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | — | 9.0Lowest |
| 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.