Compare towns
Freetown 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
Freetown has the highest household income ($144k).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Pepperell has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Freetown | Hooksett | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,285Lowest |
15,057Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Highest 9% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Freetown and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pepperell and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $143,884±$15kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Freetown and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $518,200±$30kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Freetown and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,891±$363Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Freetown and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,188Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.2%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pepperell and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 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 | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pepperell and Hooksett 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 | #161 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Freetown-Lakeville | Hooksett School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.