Compare towns
Fall River vs Hooksett vs Lowell 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
Fall River has the most affordable homes ($396k median).
Hooksett has the most homeowners (80.6%).
Lowell has the most expensive homes ($429k median).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
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 | Fall River | Hooksett | Lowell | Lawrence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 94,082 |
15,057Lowest |
118,368Highest |
88,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.2 about the U.S. average |
41.3±1.5Highest 6% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8 8% below U.S. |
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 | 19.9%±1.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8 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+ | 16.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.8 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 | $56,673±$3kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
$60,433±$3k 25% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,500±$11kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$429,200±$11kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$415,200±$23k 25% above U.S. |
| Lowell and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,155±$27Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,625±$40 15% above U.S. |
$1,662±$50Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Lawrence and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,953 27% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$4,499 44% above U.S. |
$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±3.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 35.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hooksett and Lowell 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 | #262 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #255 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Hooksett School District | Lowell | Lawrence |
| High school in town | B M C Durfee High | None in town | Lowell High | Lawrence High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
— | 14.8Highest |
13.6 |
| 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.