Compare towns
Lancaster vs Hooksett vs Mendon vs Leominster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Mendon has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Leominster has the most renters (37.7% 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 | Lancaster | Hooksett | Mendon | Leominster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
15,057 |
6,325Lowest |
43,909Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
43.3±2.2 11% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Leominster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Mendon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Leominster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$132,256±$33k 64% above U.S. |
$83,816±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$616,000±$37kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$380,400±$14kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,840±$196 30% above U.S. |
$1,354±$50Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$7,213 131% above U.S. |
$5,256Lowest 69% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±5.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #145 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #210 of 282 in MA | #233 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Hooksett School District | Mendon-Upton | Leominster |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Leominster High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.6 |
| 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.