Compare towns
Hooksett vs Merrimack 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
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Merrimack has the most people working from home (21%).
Pepperell has the most expensive homes ($482k 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 | Merrimack | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057 |
28,164Highest |
11,663Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.5±2.2 7% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Highest 9% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Merrimack 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% |
22%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Merrimack and Pepperell 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% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pepperell 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$127,219±$16kHighest 58% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Merrimack and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$458,600±$15k 38% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,932±$147Highest 37% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Merrimack and Hooksett 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. |
$7,345Highest 135% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.9%±9.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pepperell and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Merrimack and Pepperell 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 | #58 of 120 in NH | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Merrimack School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Merrimack High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5 |
— |
| 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.