Compare towns
Middleborough vs Hooksett vs Dracut vs Ludlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middleborough has the most renters (23.1% rent).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Dracut has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Middleborough | Hooksett | Dracut | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,505 |
15,057Lowest |
32,574Highest |
20,904 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±2.1 12% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
44.3±1.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Ludlow and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dracut and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
27%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,056±$7k 20% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$114,036±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$84,838±$7kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $468,700±$18k 41% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$473,900±$17kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$335,300±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Dracut and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,706±$72 21% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,223±$82Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Dracut and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,023 93% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$5,375 72% above U.S. |
$4,918Lowest 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.2%±11.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ludlow and Middleborough 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 | #170 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #201 of 282 in MA | #154 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleborough | Hooksett School District | Dracut | Ludlow |
| High school in town | Middleborough High | None in town | Dracut Senior High | Ludlow Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
— | 12.9Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.