Compare towns
Hooksett vs Sturbridge vs Northbridge
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%).
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
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 | Sturbridge | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057 |
9,960Lowest |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Northbridge 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% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Sturbridge 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% |
19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sturbridge 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kLowest 38% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Hooksett 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. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Sturbridge 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. |
$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge and Sturbridge 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge and Northbridge 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Northbridge |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7Lowest |
10.8Highest |
| 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.