Compare towns
Allenstown vs Hooksett vs Methuen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Allenstown has the most affordable homes ($244k median).
Hooksett has the most people working from home (13.4%).
Methuen has the most expensive homes ($500k 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 | Allenstown | Hooksett | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,743Lowest |
15,057 |
53,475Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.4±4.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.3±1.5Highest 6% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7 about the U.S. average |
| Hooksett and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Methuen and Allenstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hooksett and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1 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 | $72,500±$21kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,600±$69kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,281±$397Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Methuen and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,098Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$5,061 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Allenstown and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hooksett and Methuen 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 | — | #30 of 120 in NH | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Allenstown School District | Hooksett School District | Methuen |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Methuen High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 8 photos → | 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.

