Compare towns
Andover vs Dracut vs Hooksett vs Lowell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most people working from home (30.4%).
Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
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 | Andover | Dracut | Hooksett | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652 |
32,574 |
15,057Lowest |
118,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1Highest 10% above U.S. |
41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Andover and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Andover and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dracut and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lowell and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,606±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$114,036±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
$473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,839±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,625±$40Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,375 72% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #68 of 282 in MA | #201 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Dracut | Hooksett School District | Lowell |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Dracut Senior High | None in town | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
12.9 |
— | 14.8Highest |
| 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.