Compare towns
Athol vs Hooksett vs Ware vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
Ware has the oldest population (median age 43.1).
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 | Hooksett | Ware | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011 |
15,057Highest |
6,369Lowest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
39.8±6Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±4.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Ware and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Ware 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% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ware 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$45,158±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$253,400±$31kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,039±$104Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$3,408 9% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Ware 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware 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 | #256 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #267 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Hooksett School District | — | Ware |
| High school in town | Athol High | None in town | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | — | 11.1Lowest |
| 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.