Compare towns
Hooksett vs Lawrence vs Methuen vs Westfield
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 homeowners (80.6%).
Lawrence has the most renters (71.9% rent).
Methuen has the most expensive homes ($500k median).
Westfield has the most affordable homes ($325k median).
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 | Hooksett | Lawrence | Methuen | Westfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Lowest |
88,736Highest |
53,475 |
40,378 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Highest 6% above U.S. |
32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
39.9±1.7 about the U.S. average |
39.9±1.8 about the U.S. average |
| Hooksett and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westfield and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
10%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westfield and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
$87,753±$6k 9% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$415,200±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$325,100±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,662±$50 18% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
$1,117±$60Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Methuen and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$5,061 62% above U.S. |
$4,746 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.5%±5.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hooksett and Methuen 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 | #278 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA | #197 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Lawrence | Methuen | Westfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Lawrence High School | Methuen High | Westfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.6Highest |
13.1 |
11.9Lowest |
| 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.