Compare towns
Dunstable vs Hooksett vs Harvard vs Topsfield
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 most homeowners (96.5%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Topsfield has the most kids (24.8% under 18).
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 | Hooksett | Harvard | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
5,876 |
6,927Highest |
6,564 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+27.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.6±2 10% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7Highest 13% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8 8% above U.S. |
| Harvard and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsfield and Dunstable 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% |
20.7%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsfield and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62% U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dunstable and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $208,512±$23k 158% above U.S. |
$101,053±$25kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$195,718±$16k 142% above U.S. |
| Harvard and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $674,000±$30k 103% above U.S. |
$348,100±$32kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54k 151% above U.S. |
$853,400±$40kHighest 157% above U.S. |
| Topsfield and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637 6% below U.S. |
$1,811±$283Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
$1,115±$538Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,020 189% above U.S. |
$4,960Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard 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% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #4 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #12 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | — | Harvard | Topsfield |
| High school in town | None in town | — | The Bromfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.