Compare towns

Dunstable vs Hooksett vs Groton 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 most homeowners (96.5%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Groton has the most people working from home (27.5%).
Pepperell has the oldest population (median age 42.4).

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.

MeasureDunstableHooksettGrotonPepperell
People
Population
3,408Lowest
15,057Highest
11,390
11,663
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2.4
7% above U.S.
41.3±1.5Lowest
6% above U.S.
41.4±2.7
6% above U.S.
42.4±3.3Highest
9% above U.S.
Pepperell and Dunstable 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%
17.4%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
28.3%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.1%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
Groton 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%
17.3%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
17.3%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Pepperell 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%
39.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
70.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.1%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
8.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.9Lowest
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.
$117,962±$11kLowest
46% above U.S.
$192,958±$27k
139% above U.S.
$124,073±$12k
54% above U.S.
Dunstable and Groton 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.
$407,000±$26kLowest
22% above U.S.
$743,400±$46kHighest
123% above U.S.
$482,100±$14k
45% above U.S.
Groton and Dunstable 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.
$1,661±$206Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,458±$335
3% above U.S.
$1,295±$238Lowest
8% below U.S.
Hooksett and Groton 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.
$6,554Lowest
110% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$6,698
115% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
60%±77.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±16.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.8%±17
U.S.: 51.1%
45.1%±16.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Dunstable and Pepperell 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%
3.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1981Lowest
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
32 min
22% above U.S.
34 min
28% above U.S.
Work from home
20%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
27.5%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Groton and Dunstable 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 #30 of 120 in NH #39 of 282 in MA #153 of 282 in MA
School district Groton-Dunstable Hooksett School District Groton-Dunstable North Middlesex
High school in town None in town None in town Groton Dunstable Regional None in town
Students per teacherat that high school — —
13.7
—
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.