Compare towns
Methuen vs Hooksett vs Lawrence vs Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Lawrence has the most renters (71.9% rent).
Andover has the most people working from home (30.4%).
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 | Hooksett | Lawrence | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 53,475 |
15,057Lowest |
88,736Highest |
36,652 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7 about the U.S. average |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
42.9±1Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Andover and Hooksett 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% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Lawrence and Andover 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% |
17.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3 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% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Andover 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. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$172,606±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$415,200±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$1,662±$50 18% above U.S. |
$2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061 62% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #236 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #278 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | Hooksett School District | Lawrence | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Methuen High | None in town | Lawrence High School | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
— | 13.6Highest |
12.8Lowest |
| 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.