Compare towns
Hardwick vs Hooksett vs Ware vs New Braintree
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
New Braintree has the most homeowners (89.8%).
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 | Ware | New Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684 |
15,057Highest |
6,369 |
973Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
39.8±6Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.8±4.6Highest 23% above U.S. |
| New Braintree and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Ware and Hardwick 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% |
17.4%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| New Braintree 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.4%Highest 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% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.6Lowest 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. |
$45,158±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$99,500±$8k 23% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$253,400±$31kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$408,800±$27kHighest 23% above U.S. |
| New Braintree and Hooksett 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. |
$1,039±$104Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,484±$316 5% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and New Braintree 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. |
$3,408Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$5,508 77% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.4%±51.2 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% |
14.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.4%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Hooksett School District | — | Quabbin |
| 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 | 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.