Compare towns
Dracut vs Exeter 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
Dracut has the most expensive homes ($474k median).
Exeter has the most people working from home (19.9%).
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.
| Measure | Dracut | Exeter | Hooksett | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,574 |
16,151 |
15,057Lowest |
118,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Exeter 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lowell and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 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 | $114,036±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Hooksett and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,900±$17kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,625±$40Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375 72% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Hooksett 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 | #201 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hooksett School District | Lowell |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | Exeter High School | None in town | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
12.1Lowest |
— | 14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.