Compare towns
Hanson vs Hooksett vs Pepperell vs Middleton
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 most kids (21.6% under 18).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Pepperell has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Middleton has the most expensive homes ($743k median).
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 | Pepperell | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
15,057Highest |
11,663 |
9,816Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
43.1±2Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Middleton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Pepperell 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% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson and Pepperell 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest 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 | $132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Middleton 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. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,407±$284 about the U.S. average |
| Hanson and Hooksett 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. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
$8,785Highest 182% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #153 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Hooksett School District | North Middlesex | Middleton |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7 |
— | — | — |
| 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.