Compare towns
Hardwick vs Hooksett vs Bernardston vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Bernardston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k 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 | Hardwick | Hooksett | Bernardston | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684 |
15,057Highest |
2,164Lowest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
49±3.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
| Bernardston and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bernardston and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$81,940±$10k about the U.S. average |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$332,000±$15k about the U.S. average |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,283±$553 9% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 41% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$4,516 45% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hooksett and Bernardston 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | — | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Hooksett School District | Pioneer Valley | Ware |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.1 |
| 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.