Compare towns
Dracut vs Hooksett vs Westfield
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).
Hooksett has the most people working from home (13.4%).
Westfield has the most affordable homes ($325k median).
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 | Hooksett | Westfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,574 |
15,057Lowest |
40,378Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2Highest 7% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
39.9±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Dracut and Hooksett 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% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±2 U.S.: 22% |
| Dracut and Westfield 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% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westfield and Dracut 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% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
10%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westfield and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $114,036±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$87,753±$6kLowest 9% 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. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$325,100±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,117±$60Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Dracut and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375 72% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$4,746Lowest 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.5%±5.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hooksett and Dracut 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 | #201 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #197 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | Hooksett School District | Westfield |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | None in town | Westfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 11.9Lowest |
| 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.