Compare towns
Hanson vs Hooksett vs Pembroke vs Halifax
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanson has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Pembroke has the most people working from home (21.2%).
Halifax has the most homeowners (95.5%).
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 | Hanson | Hooksett | Pembroke | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
15,057 |
18,382Highest |
7,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.5±3.3Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
| Pembroke and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$146,285±$17kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$118,556±$11k 47% above U.S. |
| Pembroke and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$586,500±$28kHighest 76% above U.S. |
$481,500±$51k 45% above U.S. |
| Pembroke and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$2,464±$753Highest 74% above U.S. |
$1,804±$375 28% above U.S. |
| Pembroke and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402Lowest 105% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,585 111% above U.S. |
$6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±5.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pembroke and Halifax 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #82 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Hooksett School District | Pembroke | Halifax |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | Pembroke High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 12.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.