Compare towns
Boylston vs Hooksett vs Shrewsbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boylston has the oldest population (median age 48.2).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Shrewsbury has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Boylston | Hooksett | Shrewsbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,948Lowest |
15,057 |
38,876Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±2.3Highest 24% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
40.6±1.5Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Shrewsbury and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Boylston and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,962±$28kHighest 75% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$139,302±$11k 73% above U.S. |
| Boylston and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $578,600±$47k 74% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$592,300±$20kHighest 78% above U.S. |
| Shrewsbury and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,032±$350 44% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$2,116±$98Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Shrewsbury and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,266Highest 133% above U.S. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$6,923 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.2%±6.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Boylston and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.3%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shrewsbury and Boylston 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 | #72 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #30 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Hooksett School District | Shrewsbury |
| High school in town | Tahanto Regional High | None in town | Shrewsbury High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 14.4Highest |
| 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.