Compare towns
Dracut vs Hooksett vs Randolph Town 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 oldest population (median age 41.7).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Randolph Town has the most people working from home (15.1%).
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 | Hooksett | Randolph Town | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,574 |
15,057Lowest |
34,878 |
118,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2Highest 7% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
41.3±1.8 6% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Dracut and Hooksett 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% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±2Lowest 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% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Randolph Town and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lowell and Randolph Town 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. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$109,573±$6k 36% 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±$17k 42% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$496,400±$21kHighest 49% above U.S. |
$429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
| Randolph Town and Dracut 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. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$2,103±$98Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,625±$40Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375 72% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$5,644 81% above U.S. |
$4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Randolph Town 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Randolph Town 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #260 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | Hooksett School District | Randolph | Lowell |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | None in town | Randolph High | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
— | 14.2 |
14.8Highest |
| 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.