Compare towns
Dracut vs Epping vs Hooksett vs Middleborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dracut has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Middleborough has the most renters (23.1% rent).
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 | Dracut | Epping | Hooksett | Middleborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,574Highest |
7,430Lowest |
15,057 |
24,505 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.4±2.1 12% above U.S. |
| Epping and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Dracut and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,036±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$97,056±$7kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,900±$17kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$468,700±$18k 41% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$1,706±$72 21% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375Lowest 72% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,023 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.2%±11.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #201 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #170 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | Epping School District | Hooksett School District | Middleborough |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | Epping High School | None in town | Middleborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
9.3Lowest |
— | 11.3 |
| 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.