Compare towns
Gardner vs Hooksett vs Warner vs Ashburnham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
Warner has the most people working from home (16.6%).
Ashburnham has the most homeowners (96%).
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 | Gardner | Hooksett | Warner | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
5,876 |
2,959Lowest |
6,415 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+27.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
42.6±2 10% above U.S. |
43.7±4Highest 12% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashburnham and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hooksett and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$101,053±$25k 25% above U.S. |
$94,022±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$118,809±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$348,100±$32k 5% above U.S. |
$353,100±$22k 6% above U.S. |
$390,700±$34kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,811±$283Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,219±$123 14% below U.S. |
$1,807±$1k 28% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$4,960 59% above U.S. |
$7,650Highest 145% above U.S. |
$6,046 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.7%±21.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Warner and Ashburnham 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | — | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | — | Kearsarge Regional School District | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | — | — |
| 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.