Compare towns
Lowell vs Hooksett vs Lynn vs Dracut
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
Hooksett has the most people working from home (13.4%).
Lynn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Dracut has the oldest population (median age 41.7).
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 | Lynn | Dracut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
15,057Lowest |
101,709 |
32,574 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
36.5±1.2 6% below U.S. |
41.7±2Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Dracut 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% |
24.1%±1.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Lynn and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.7%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dracut 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% 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% |
5.4%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3Lowest 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±$4k about the U.S. average |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$75,043±$3kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$114,036±$10k 41% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$510,100±$23kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
| Lynn and Dracut 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. |
$1,722±$60 22% above U.S. |
$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Lynn 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. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$5,384 73% above U.S. |
$5,375 72% 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% |
60%±4.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lynn and Dracut 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% |
13.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hooksett and Dracut 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 | #255 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #277 of 282 in MA | #201 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Hooksett School District | Lynn | Dracut |
| High school in town | Lowell High | None in town | Lynn English High | Dracut Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8 |
— | 15.0Highest |
12.9Lowest |
| 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.