Compare towns

Andover 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%).
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.

MeasureAndoverHooksettLowell
People
Population
36,652
15,057Lowest
118,368Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.9±1Highest
10% above U.S.
41.3±1.5
6% above U.S.
35.6±0.8Lowest
8% below U.S.
Andover and Hooksett 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%
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%
17.3%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
12.6%±0.8Lowest
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%
39.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
30%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.1%±0.8Lowest
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.
$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.
$407,000±$26kLowest
22% above U.S.
$429,200±$11k
29% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,201±$129Highest
56% above U.S.
$1,661±$206
18% above U.S.
$1,625±$40Lowest
15% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$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%
41.7%±16.4
U.S.: 51.1%
52.4%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Lowell 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%
3.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
16.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%
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.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1953Lowest
27 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
10% 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%
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 #30 of 120 in NH #255 of 282 in MA
School district Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical Hooksett School District Lowell
High school in town Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical None in town Lowell High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Lowest
—
14.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.