Compare towns
Boxborough vs Everett vs Hooksett vs Essex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Essex has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Boxborough | Everett | Hooksett | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,496 |
50,045Highest |
15,057 |
3,701Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±1.6 10% above U.S. |
35.2±1.5Lowest 10% below U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
45±3.4Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Essex and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Essex and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hooksett and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 80.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
69% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $144,611±$35k 79% above U.S. |
$85,218±$7kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$157,147±$24kHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Essex and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $706,900±$72k 112% above U.S. |
$610,000±$23k 83% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$897,400±$59kHighest 170% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,887±$173 34% above U.S. |
$2,076±$69Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$1,964±$238 39% above U.S. |
| Everett and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,880Lowest 56% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.8%±22.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Everett and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Essex and Boxborough 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 | #31 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #93 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Everett | Hooksett School District | Manchester Essex Regional |
| High school in town | None in town | Everett High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| 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.