Compare towns
Acton vs Hooksett vs Methuen vs Winchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Methuen has the most renters (27.7% rent).
Winchester has the most expensive homes ($1215k median).
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 | Acton | Hooksett | Methuen | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
15,057Lowest |
53,475Highest |
23,406 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.5±1.9 9% above U.S. |
| Acton and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Winchester and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Winchester and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7kLowest 40% above U.S. |
$230,198±$21kHighest 185% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
$1,215,200±$39kHighest 265% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
$2,279±$481Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Winchester and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.3%±13.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Methuen and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.8%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Winchester 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 | #13 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #236 of 282 in MA | #11 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Hooksett School District | Methuen | Winchester |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | Methuen High | Winchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | 13.1Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| 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.