Compare towns
Pepperell vs Hooksett vs Lunenburg vs Douglas
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).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Lunenburg | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663 |
15,057Highest |
11,902 |
9,207Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.2±2.1 11% above U.S. |
44±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pepperell and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 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±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$112,828±$11kLowest 40% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$463,900±$24k 39% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Hooksett 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. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,401 105% above U.S. |
$6,338Lowest 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±13.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lunenburg and Pepperell 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas and Pepperell 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #87 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Hooksett School District | Lunenburg | Douglas |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Lunenburg High | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.4Highest |
7.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.