Compare towns
Hooksett vs Middleborough 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
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Middleborough has the most expensive homes ($469k median).
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 | Hooksett | Middleborough | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Lowest |
24,505 |
118,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
43.4±2.1Highest 12% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Middleborough and Hooksett 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% |
18.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lowell and Middleborough 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% |
21.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middleborough 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% |
32% U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest 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 | $117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$97,056±$7k 20% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$468,700±$18kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,706±$72Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,625±$40Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Middleborough and Hooksett 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. |
$6,023 93% above U.S. |
$4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.2%±11.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middleborough and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middleborough 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 | #170 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Middleborough | Lowell |
| High school in town | None in town | Middleborough High | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| 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.