Compare towns

Hooksett vs Atkinson vs Methuen

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Atkinson has the most people working from home (21.1%).
Methuen has the most kids (21.3% 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.

MeasureHooksettAtkinsonMethuen
People
Population
15,057
7,267Lowest
53,475Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
41.3±1.5
6% above U.S.
57.1±2.8Highest
47% above U.S.
39.9±1.7Lowest
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
17.4%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
Methuen and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.3%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
27.4%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
42.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
31%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.8%±4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.7%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
Hooksett and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$117,962±$11k
46% above U.S.
$146,380±$32kHighest
81% above U.S.
$113,310±$7kLowest
40% above U.S.
Atkinson and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$407,000±$26kLowest
22% above U.S.
$555,200±$65kHighest
67% above U.S.
$499,700±$17k
50% above U.S.
Atkinson and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,661±$206
18% above U.S.
$1,140±$32Lowest
19% below U.S.
$1,749±$91Highest
24% above U.S.
Methuen and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,554
110% above U.S.
$6,918Highest
122% above U.S.
$5,061Lowest
62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.7%±16.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
66.5%±39.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.4%±6.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Atkinson and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
1.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
28 minHighest
7% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
Work from home
13.4%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
21.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.2%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Atkinson 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 #30 of 120 in NH #32 of 120 in NH #236 of 282 in MA
School district Hooksett School District Timberlane Regional School District Methuen
High school in town None in town None in town Methuen High
Students per teacherat that high school — —
13.1
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.