Compare towns
Dracut vs Hooksett vs Wolfeboro 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).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Hooksett | Wolfeboro | Middleborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,574Highest |
15,057 |
6,571Lowest |
24,505 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
43.4±2.1 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest 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% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
45%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% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,036±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$97,056±$7k 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. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$468,700±$18k 41% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro 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±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,706±$72 21% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Middleborough 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. |
$4,531Lowest 45% 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%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest 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% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 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 |
24 minLowest 10% 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% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | #170 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | Hooksett School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Middleborough |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | Middleborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
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.