Compare towns

Middlesex vs Hooksett vs Westford

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 people working from home (28.4%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Westford has the most expensive homes ($425k 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.

MeasureMiddlesexHooksettWestford
People
Population
1,943Lowest
15,057Highest
2,290
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.4±3.9Highest
14% above U.S.
41.3±1.5Lowest
6% above U.S.
44.1±8.6
13% above U.S.
Middlesex and Westford 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%
16.9%±4.6Lowest
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%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.3%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Middlesex and Hooksett 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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
8.9%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
9.5%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Westford and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$109,632±$13kLowest
36% above U.S.
$117,962±$11kHighest
46% above U.S.
$112,750±$12k
40% above U.S.
Hooksett and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$376,300±$40kLowest
13% above U.S.
$407,000±$26k
22% above U.S.
$424,500±$21kHighest
28% above U.S.
Westford and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,333±$359Lowest
6% below U.S.
$1,661±$206
18% above U.S.
$2,375±$1kHighest
68% above U.S.
Westford and Hooksett 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.
$6,282Lowest
101% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±16.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
29.8%±31
U.S.: 51.1%
Hooksett and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1982Lowest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
4% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
Work from home
28.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.1%±6.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Middlesex and Westford 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 —
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Hooksett School District Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
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.