Compare towns
Methuen vs Derry vs Hooksett vs Lawrence
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 most expensive homes ($500k median).
Derry has the most people working from home (16%).
Hooksett has the most homeowners (80.6%).
Lawrence has the most renters (71.9% 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 | Derry | Hooksett | Lawrence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 53,475 |
34,116 |
15,057Lowest |
88,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7 about the U.S. average |
40.3±1.6 4% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Highest 6% above U.S. |
32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hooksett and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±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. |
$108,944±$7k 35% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$432,000±$17k 30% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$415,200±$23k 25% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
$1,547±$138Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,662±$50 18% above U.S. |
| Methuen and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061 62% above U.S. |
$8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lawrence and Derry 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% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Derry and Hooksett 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #278 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Hooksett School District | Lawrence |
| High school in town | Methuen High | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | Lawrence High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Lowest |
13.9Highest |
— | 13.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.