Compare towns
Dracut vs Barrington vs Hooksett vs Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
Barrington has the most homeowners (87%).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Andover has the most expensive homes ($856k median).
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 | Dracut | Barrington | Hooksett | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,574 |
9,489Lowest |
15,057 |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
38.7±2.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
42.9±1Highest 10% above 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 | 21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Barrington and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3 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+ | 36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,036±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$110,323±$14kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
$399,100±$30kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,867±$194 32% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375Lowest 72% above U.S. |
$7,121 128% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.1%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barrington and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #201 of 282 in MA | #65 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | Barrington School District | Hooksett School District | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | None in town | None in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | — | 12.8Lowest |
| 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.