Compare towns
Lawrence vs Hooksett vs Lowell 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
Lawrence has the most renters (71.9% rent).
Hooksett has the most homeowners (80.6%).
Methuen has the most expensive homes ($500k 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 | Lowell | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 88,736 |
15,057Lowest |
118,368Highest |
53,475 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
41.3±1.5Highest 6% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8 8% below U.S. |
39.9±1.7 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 | 26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hooksett and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
31% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1 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 | $60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
$113,310±$7k 40% 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 | $415,200±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50 18% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,625±$40Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91Highest 24% above 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 | $3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$4,499 44% above U.S. |
$5,061 62% 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% |
52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3 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 | #278 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #255 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Hooksett School District | Lowell | Methuen |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | None in town | Lowell High | Methuen High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6 |
— | 14.8Highest |
13.1Lowest |
| 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.