Compare towns
Berkley vs Hooksett vs Halifax vs Ashburnham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berkley has the highest household income ($144k).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Halifax has the oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
Ashburnham has the most people working from home (16%).
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 | Berkley | Hooksett | Halifax | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,829 |
15,057Highest |
7,748 |
6,415Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.1Highest 12% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Berkley and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashburnham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Halifax and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $144,205±$49kHighest 79% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$118,556±$11k 47% above U.S. |
$118,809±$11k 47% above U.S. |
| Berkley and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,200±$45kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$481,500±$51k 45% above U.S. |
$390,700±$34kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Berkley and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$1,804±$375 28% above U.S. |
$1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,018Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
$6,046 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
96% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashburnham and Halifax 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 | #155 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #120 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berkley | Hooksett School District | Halifax | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.