Compare towns
Hollis vs Orford vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hollis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Pepperell has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
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 | Hollis | Orford | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,603 |
1,295Lowest |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±5Highest 27% above U.S. |
48.9±3.3 26% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Hollis and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Hollis and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orford and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $168,883±$22kHighest 109% above U.S. |
$92,571±$24kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $675,900±$48kHighest 103% above U.S. |
$271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$302Highest 13% above U.S. |
$1,263±$686Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
| Hollis and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,836Lowest 87% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±19.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pepperell and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #8 of 120 in NH | — | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District | Rivendell Interstate School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Hollis-Brookline High School | Rivendell Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.