Compare towns
Methuen vs Atkinson vs Hooksett vs Attleboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Methuen has the oldest housing (typical home built 1968).
Atkinson has the most people working from home (21.1%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Attleboro has the most renters (33.8% rent).
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 | Methuen | Atkinson | Hooksett | Attleboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 53,475Highest |
7,267Lowest |
15,057 |
46,762 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7 about the U.S. average |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
39.8±1.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Attleboro and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
$146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$98,954±$6kLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$448,100±$13k 35% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,590±$83 13% above U.S. |
| Methuen and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$6,918Highest 122% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$5,366 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±5.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
66.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.5%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Atkinson and Attleboro 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 | #236 of 282 in MA | #32 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #185 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | Timberlane Regional School District | Hooksett School District | Attleboro |
| High school in town | Methuen High | None in town | None in town | Attleboro High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Lowest |
— | — | 15.3Highest |
| 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.