Compare towns
Lowell vs Hooksett vs Everett vs Chelmsford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Chelmsford has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Lowell | Hooksett | Everett | Chelmsford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
15,057Lowest |
50,045 |
36,446 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8 8% below U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
35.2±1.5Lowest 10% below U.S. |
41.6±1.9Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Chelmsford and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Everett and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±0.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chelmsford and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.1Lowest 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 | $78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$85,218±$7k 6% above U.S. |
$140,629±$8kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$610,000±$23kHighest 83% above U.S. |
$593,700±$17k 78% above U.S. |
| Everett and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$2,076±$69Highest 47% above U.S. |
$2,062±$151 46% above U.S. |
| Everett and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$4,880 56% above U.S. |
$8,047Highest 158% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.7%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Everett and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #255 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #264 of 282 in MA | #79 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Hooksett School District | Everett | Chelmsford |
| High school in town | Lowell High | None in town | Everett High | Chelmsford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
14.0 |
| 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.