Compare towns
Lawrence vs Hooksett vs Chelsea
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lawrence has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Hooksett has the most homeowners (80.6%).
Chelsea has the most expensive homes ($494k 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 | Lawrence | Hooksett | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 88,736Highest |
15,057Lowest |
39,908 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
41.3±1.5Highest 6% above U.S. |
34.4±1.3 12% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.4%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Lawrence and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$72,179±$8k 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$493,500±$24kHighest 48% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50 18% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$1,956±$96Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422 10% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$3,321Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±5.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lawrence and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
26%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1941Lowest 39 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hooksett and Chelsea 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 | #278 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #280 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Hooksett School District | Chelsea |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | None in town | Chelsea High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
— | 13.1Lowest |
| 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.