Compare towns
Pepperell vs Ashby vs Hooksett
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 expensive homes ($482k median).
Ashby has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Ashby | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663 |
3,211Lowest |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Pepperell and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
$6,034Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pepperell and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pepperell and Ashby 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #200 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Middlesex | North Middlesex | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.