Compare towns

Lowell vs Hooksett vs Stratham

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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Stratham has the most people working from home (25.3%).

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.

MeasureLowellHooksettStratham
People
Population
118,368Highest
15,057
7,754Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
35.6±0.8Lowest
8% below U.S.
41.3±1.5
6% above U.S.
41.6±4.9Highest
7% above U.S.
Stratham 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%
23.5%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Stratham 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%
20.6%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Stratham 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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
69.9%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%
3.9%±1.7Lowest
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.
$151,998±$20kHighest
88% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$429,200±$11k
29% above U.S.
$407,000±$26kLowest
22% above U.S.
$655,400±$36kHighest
97% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,625±$40Lowest
15% above U.S.
$1,661±$206
18% above U.S.
$2,511±$377Highest
78% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,499Lowest
44% above U.S.
$6,554
110% above U.S.
$9,781Highest
214% 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%
64%±38.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Stratham 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%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
43.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1953Lowest
27 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1986
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
10.6%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
25.3%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #255 of 282 in MA #30 of 120 in NH #43 of 120 in NH
School district Lowell Hooksett School District Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District
High school in town Lowell High None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
14.8
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.