Compare towns

Hooksett vs Hardwick vs Dudley

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%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Dudley has the youngest population (median age 40.2).

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.

MeasureHooksettHardwickDudley
People
Population
15,057Highest
2,684Lowest
11,929
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-10.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.3±1.5
6% above U.S.
45.3±9.8Highest
16% above U.S.
40.2±2.4Lowest
3% 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%
20.5%±5.6
U.S.: 22%
20.6%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Dudley and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.3%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
22.7%±5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.9%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hardwick and Hooksett 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%
30.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
24.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.9%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
13.1%±2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$117,962±$11kHighest
46% above U.S.
$75,000±$22kLowest
7% below U.S.
$84,604±$12k
5% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$407,000±$26kHighest
22% above U.S.
$346,700±$67kLowest
4% above U.S.
$392,600±$19k
18% above U.S.
Hooksett and Dudley 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.
$1,108±$119Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,217±$182
14% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,554Highest
110% above U.S.
$4,400
41% above U.S.
$3,691Lowest
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.7%±16.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
59%±13.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.4%±4.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Hardwick and Dudley 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%
11%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
68.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1967Lowest
13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
27 min
4% above U.S.
Work from home
13.4%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.7%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.1%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Hooksett and Dudley 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 #163 of 282 in MA #142 of 282 in MA
School district Hooksett School District Quabbin Dudley-Charlton Reg
High school in town None in town None in town Shepherd Hill Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school — —
14.3
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.