Compare towns
Dunstable vs Hanson vs Hooksett vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
Hanson has the oldest population (median age 42.8).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Dunstable | Hanson | Hooksett | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
10,660 |
15,057Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4 7% above U.S. |
42.8±3Highest 10% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Dunstable and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $674,000±$30kHighest 103% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637 6% below U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Hanson and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,020Highest 189% above U.S. |
$6,402Lowest 105% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dunstable and Pepperell 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 | #4 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Whitman-Hanson | Hooksett School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7 |
— | — |
| 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.