Compare towns
Lawrence vs Hooksett vs Methuen vs Fall River
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 kids (26.3% under 18).
Hooksett has the most homeowners (80.6%).
Methuen has the most expensive homes ($500k median).
Fall River has the most affordable homes ($396k 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 | Methuen | Fall River |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 88,736 |
15,057Lowest |
53,475 |
94,082Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
41.3±1.5Highest 6% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7 about the U.S. average |
39.3±1.2 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% |
21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±1.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±0.9 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.4%Lowest 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% |
6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $60,433±$3k 25% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
$56,673±$3kLowest 30% below 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±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$395,500±$11kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50 18% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
$1,155±$27Lowest 18% 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 | $3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$5,061 62% above U.S. |
$3,953 27% 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% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±3.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 17.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
35.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 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 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±1.2 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 | #278 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #236 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Hooksett School District | Methuen | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | None in town | Methuen High | B M C Durfee High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
— | 13.1 |
11.3Lowest |
| 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.