Compare towns
Dudley vs Hooksett vs Orange
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).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k 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 | Hooksett | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929 |
15,057Highest |
7,573Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Orange 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% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orange 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19k 18% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$4,136 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dudley and Hooksett 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hooksett and Dudley 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Hooksett School District | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | 9.0Lowest |
| 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.