Compare towns
Chelmsford 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
Chelmsford has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Chelmsford | Hooksett | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,446 |
15,057Lowest |
118,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±1.9Highest 7% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Chelmsford and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lowell and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chelmsford and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.1Lowest 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 | $140,629±$8kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $593,700±$17kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,062±$151Highest 46% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,625±$40Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,047Highest 158% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.7%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lowell and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 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 | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±2.3Highest 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 | #79 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Chelmsford | Hooksett School District | Lowell |
| High school in town | Chelmsford High | None in town | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Lowest |
— | 14.8Highest |
| 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.