Compare towns
Hooksett vs Petersham vs Ware
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%).
Petersham has the oldest population (median age 56.3).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k 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 | Petersham | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
1,185Lowest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ware and Hooksett 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% |
30.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$110,750±$20k 37% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$392,400±$20k 18% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Petersham 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. |
$1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Petersham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$4,636 49% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware 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% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Petersham and Hooksett 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Petersham | Ware |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| 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.