Compare towns
Ware vs Hooksett vs Palmer Town vs Athol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Palmer Town has the oldest population (median age 47.8).
Athol has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Ware | Hooksett | Palmer Town | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048Lowest |
15,057Highest |
12,381 |
12,011 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
47.8±5.6Highest 23% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Palmer Town and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Palmer Town and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$78,480±$8k about the U.S. average |
$69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$271,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,075±$103 24% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237 36% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$4,540 46% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±10.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hooksett and Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #252 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Hooksett School District | Palmer · Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | Pathfinder Vocational Technical | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | 9.9Lowest |
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.