Compare towns
Dracut vs Hooksett vs Williston 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).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Williston has the most people working from home (22.3%).
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 | Williston | Middleborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,574Highest |
15,057 |
10,144Lowest |
24,505 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.4±2.1 12% above U.S. |
| Williston 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% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Dracut and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middleborough and Williston 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Williston 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. |
$106,967±$12k 32% 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±$17k 42% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$468,700±$18k 41% above U.S. |
| Williston and Dracut 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. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,706±$72 21% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Williston 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. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$6,023 93% 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% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.2%±11.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut and Middleborough 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Middleborough 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #170 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | Hooksett School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Middleborough |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | None in town | None in town | Middleborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | — | 11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.