Compare towns

Fall River vs Hooksett vs New Bedford

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 renters (64.7% rent).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
New Bedford has the most kids (23.9% under 18).

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.

MeasureFall RiverHooksettNew Bedford
People
Population
94,082
15,057Lowest
100,998Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.3±1.2
about the U.S. average
41.3±1.5Highest
6% above U.S.
37±0.8Lowest
5% 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%
23.9%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
16.1%±0.9
U.S.: 17.2%
17.3%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.4%±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%
17%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±0.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
8.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.1%±0.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$56,673±$3kLowest
30% below U.S.
$117,962±$11kHighest
46% above U.S.
$56,981±$3k
29% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$395,500±$11k
19% above U.S.
$407,000±$26kHighest
22% above U.S.
$357,300±$6kLowest
7% above U.S.
Hooksett and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,155±$27
18% below U.S.
$1,661±$206Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,137±$26Lowest
20% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,953Lowest
27% above U.S.
$6,554Highest
110% above U.S.
$4,338
39% 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%
52.6%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
New Bedford and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
19.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
20.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
35.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
40.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1945
35 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
about the U.S. average
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
Work from home
7.1%±1.2
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
5.4%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #262 of 282 in MA #30 of 120 in NH #263 of 282 in MA
School district Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical Hooksett School District New Bedford · Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town B M C Durfee High None in town New Bedford High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.3Lowest
—
13.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.