Compare towns
Hooksett vs Athol vs Hardwick
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%).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Hardwick has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
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 | Athol | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
12,011 |
2,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Hardwick and Hooksett 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% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Hardwick 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% |
19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4 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 | $117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above 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 | $1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Athol 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% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hooksett and Athol 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 | #256 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Athol-Royalston | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | Athol High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— |
| 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.