Compare towns
Andover vs Hooksett vs Westford
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 expensive homes ($856k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
Westford has the most kids (25.6% 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 | Andover | Hooksett | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,652Highest |
5,876Lowest |
24,690 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+27.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1Highest 10% above U.S. |
42.6±2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
42.8±1.2 10% above U.S. |
| Andover and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Westford and Andover 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% |
20.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hooksett and Andover 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% |
41.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
73.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Andover 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±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$101,053±$25kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$187,198±$10kHighest 132% above U.S. |
| Westford and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
$348,100±$32kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$748,500±$32k 125% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
$1,811±$283Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$2,436±$422Highest 72% above U.S. |
| Westford and Andover 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. |
$4,960Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$9,695 211% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westford and Hooksett 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% |
4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Westford 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 | #68 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #20 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | — | Nashoba Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Westford |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | — | Westford Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
— | 14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.