Compare towns
Pepperell vs Hooksett vs Hardwick vs Groton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pepperell has the most renters (50.8% rent).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Groton has the most people working from home (27.5%).
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 | Pepperell | Hooksett | Hardwick | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,971Lowest |
15,057Highest |
2,684 |
11,390 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±6.3Highest 19% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Groton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,726±$17k 5% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,300±$40k 37% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,139±$301 19% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,458±$335 3% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,871 120% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±20.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.8%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #153 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #163 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Hooksett School District | Quabbin | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 13.7 |
| 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.