Compare towns
Orange vs Hooksett vs Athol vs Royalston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Athol has the oldest housing (typical home built 1953).
Royalston has the most homeowners (96%).
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 | Orange | Hooksett | Athol | Royalston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,573 |
15,057Highest |
12,011 |
1,460Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
47.8±14.6Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Royalston and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±10 U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Royalston and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Royalston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
$102,109±$8k 26% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Royalston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
$346,300±$18k 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,650±$412 17% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Royalston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,136 33% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$3,403 9% above U.S. |
$3,196Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±11.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Royalston and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hooksett and Royalston 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 | #275 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #256 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Hooksett School District | Athol-Royalston | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town | Athol High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
— | 11.6Highest |
— |
| 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.