Compare towns
Dudley vs Hardwick vs Hooksett vs Whitman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dudley has the youngest population (median age 40.2).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Whitman has the most expensive homes ($473k 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 | Dudley | Hardwick | Hooksett | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
2,684Lowest |
15,057 |
15,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
40.4±1.8 4% above U.S. |
| Hardwick and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Whitman and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$108,933±$14k 35% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19k 18% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$472,700±$12kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,771±$151Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Whitman and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$5,824 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitman and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hooksett and Whitman 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Quabbin | Hooksett School District | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3 |
— | — | — |
| 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.