Compare towns
Lawrence vs Salem vs Hooksett vs Everett
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).
Salem has the most people working from home (16.3%).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k 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 | Salem | Hooksett | Everett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 88,736Highest |
30,964 |
15,057Lowest |
50,045 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
35.2±1.5 10% below U.S. |
| Salem and Hooksett 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% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.3%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Hooksett 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% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$85,218±$7k 6% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Salem 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. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$610,000±$23kHighest 83% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50 18% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$2,076±$69Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$4,880 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±5.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lawrence and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem 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 | #278 of 282 in MA | #38 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #264 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Salem School District | Hooksett School District | Everett |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Salem High School | None in town | Everett High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
11.2Lowest |
— | 12.1 |
| 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.