Compare towns
Lowell vs Windham vs Hooksett
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).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($723k median).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k 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 | Lowell | Windham | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
16,038 |
15,057Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Windham 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hooksett and Windham 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% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 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 |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lowell and Windham 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #255 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lowell | Windham School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
12.8Lowest |
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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.