Compare towns
Lowell vs Mapleton vs South Hooksett 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
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
South Hooksett has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Mapleton | South Hooksett | Chelmsford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
1,884Lowest |
5,902 |
36,446 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8 8% below U.S. |
41.8±6Highest 7% above U.S. |
35.2±3.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
41.6±1.9 7% above U.S. |
| Mapleton and Chelmsford 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mapleton and Chelmsford 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% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$130,000±$15k 61% above U.S. |
$140,629±$8kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Chelmsford and South Hooksett 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$433,200±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$593,700±$17kHighest 78% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40 15% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,471±$217 4% above U.S. |
$2,062±$151Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499 44% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,801 118% above U.S. |
$8,047Highest 158% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±25 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.7%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lowell and Chelmsford 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest 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 | — | — | #79 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | Chelmsford |
| High school in town | Lowell High | None in town | — | Chelmsford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
— | — | 14.0Lowest |
| 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.