Compare towns
Chelsea vs Hooksett vs Fall River vs Lawrence
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chelsea has the most expensive homes ($494k median).
Hooksett has the most homeowners (80.6%).
Fall River has the most affordable homes ($396k median).
Lawrence has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Chelsea | Hooksett | Fall River | Lawrence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 39,908 |
15,057Lowest |
94,082Highest |
88,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 34.4±1.3 12% below U.S. |
41.3±1.5Highest 6% above U.S. |
39.3±1.2 about the U.S. average |
32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.4%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±1.2 U.S.: 22% |
26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lawrence and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hooksett and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,179±$8k 11% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$56,673±$3kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$60,433±$3k 25% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $493,500±$24kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$395,500±$11kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$415,200±$23k 25% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,956±$96Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,155±$27Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,662±$50 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,321Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$3,953 27% above U.S. |
$3,422 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±5.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±3.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lawrence and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 26%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
35.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
28.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1941Lowest 39 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.4%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hooksett and Chelsea 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 | #280 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #262 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Chelsea | Hooksett School District | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Lawrence |
| High school in town | Chelsea High | None in town | B M C Durfee High | Lawrence High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
— | 11.3Lowest |
13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.