Compare towns
Dunstable vs Pepperell vs South Hooksett
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).
Pepperell has the oldest population (median age 42.4).
South Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
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 | Pepperell | South Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
11,663Highest |
5,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4 7% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Highest 9% above U.S. |
35.2±3.6Lowest 10% below 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%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dunstable and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pepperell and Dunstable 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% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12kLowest 54% above U.S. |
$130,000±$15k 61% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $674,000±$30kHighest 103% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$433,200±$40kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637 6% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,471±$217Highest 4% above U.S. |
| South Hooksett and Dunstable 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. |
$6,698Lowest 115% above U.S. |
$6,801 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±25Lowest 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% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | North Middlesex | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.