Compare towns
Lowell vs Windham vs Hooksett vs Lynn
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 people working from home (21.9%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Lynn has the oldest housing (typical home built 1946).
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 | Lynn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
16,038 |
15,057Lowest |
101,709 |
| 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% |
+12.1% 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. |
36.5±1.2 6% below 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% |
24.1%±1.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Lynn 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% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.7%±0.9 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1%Lowest 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% |
5.4%±0.6 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±$4k about the U.S. average |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$75,043±$3kLowest 7% below 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. |
$510,100±$23k 53% 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. |
$1,722±$60 22% 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. |
$5,384 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±4.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lynn 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.8% 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% |
48.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±1Lowest 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 | #277 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Windham School District | Hooksett School District | Lynn |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Windham High School | None in town | Lynn English High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8 |
12.8Lowest |
— | 15.0Highest |
| 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.