Compare towns
Ware vs Hooksett vs Ware 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
Ware has the oldest population (median age 43.1).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
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 | Ware | Hooksett | Ware | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
15,057Highest |
6,369Lowest |
12,011 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
39.8±6Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
| Ware and Hooksett 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%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Ware and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ware and Athol 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% |
15.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4% 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% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$45,158±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$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. |
$253,400±$31kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,039±$104Lowest 26% 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. |
$3,408 9% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Ware 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% |
14.1% 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% |
57.4%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. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware and Hooksett 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Hooksett School District | — | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | — | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | — | 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.