Compare towns

Middlesex vs Hooksett vs Berlin vs Worcester

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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.

MeasureMiddlesexHooksettBerlinWorcester
People
Population
1,943
15,057Highest
2,880
831Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.4±3.9
14% above U.S.
41.3±1.5Lowest
6% above U.S.
50.6±2.4Highest
30% above U.S.
47±2.7
21% above U.S.
Berlin and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.3%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
16.6%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Middlesex and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.6%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
17.3%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.8%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Berlin and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
28.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
8.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±4.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Hooksett and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$109,632±$13k
36% above U.S.
$117,962±$11kHighest
46% above U.S.
$86,691±$21k
7% above U.S.
$73,833±$18kLowest
9% below U.S.
Hooksett and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$376,300±$40k
13% above U.S.
$407,000±$26kHighest
22% above U.S.
$273,600±$31k
18% below U.S.
$271,100±$27kLowest
19% below U.S.
Hooksett and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,333±$359
6% below U.S.
$1,661±$206Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,169±$171
17% below U.S.
$1,023±$136Lowest
28% below U.S.
Hooksett and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,483
108% above U.S.
$6,554Highest
110% above U.S.
$4,418Lowest
42% above U.S.
$4,421
42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±16.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41%±19.9
U.S.: 51.1%
25.5%±37
U.S.: 51.1%
Hooksett and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
4% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
21 minLowest
20% below U.S.
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
Work from home
28.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
11.7%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.6%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Middlesex and Worcester 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 #16 of 70 in VT —
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Hooksett School District Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town None in town None in town None in town None in town
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.