Compare towns
Bernardston 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
Bernardston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
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 | Bernardston | Hardwick | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,164Lowest |
2,684 |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±3.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Bernardston and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bernardston and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.2Lowest 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 | $81,940±$10k about the U.S. average |
$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,000±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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 | $1,283±$553 9% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,516 45% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.7%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hooksett and Bernardston 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 | — | #163 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | Quabbin | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.