Compare towns
Hooksett vs Marblehead vs Needham vs Wilton
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 (+27.4%).
Marblehead has the most people working from home (34%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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 | Hooksett | Marblehead | Needham | Wilton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,876 |
20,413 |
32,459Highest |
3,960Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
49.1±2Highest 26% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
46.8±5.2 20% above U.S. |
| Marblehead and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Marblehead and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
78.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,053±$25kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$182,132±$28k 126% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$114,349±$21k 42% above U.S. |
| Needham and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $348,100±$32kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$943,900±$31k 184% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$381,500±$23k 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,811±$283 28% above U.S. |
$1,764±$147 25% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,382±$70Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,960Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$8,309 166% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,612 144% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.5%±8.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.1%±39.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
77% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Marblehead and Needham 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #47 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #54 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Marblehead | Needham | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | — | Marblehead High | Needham High | Wilton-Lyndeboro Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
11.9Highest |
9.1Lowest |
| 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.