Compare towns
Hooksett vs Acton vs Winchester
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 the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Acton has the most renters (25.1% rent).
Winchester has the most expensive homes ($1215k 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 | Acton | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Lowest |
24,155Highest |
23,406 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.5±1.9 9% above U.S. |
| Acton and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
27.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Winchester and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Winchester and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
$230,198±$21kHighest 185% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
$1,215,200±$39kHighest 265% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$2,279±$481Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Winchester and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.3%±13.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.8%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Winchester 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 | #13 of 282 in MA | #11 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Acton-Boxborough | Winchester |
| High school in town | None in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Winchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.