Compare towns
Methuen vs Hooksett vs Westfield vs Dracut
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).
Hooksett has the most people working from home (13.4%).
Westfield has the most affordable homes ($325k median).
Dracut has the oldest population (median age 41.7).
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 | Westfield | Dracut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 53,475Highest |
15,057Lowest |
40,378 |
32,574 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
39.9±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.7±2Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Dracut 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% |
18.1%±2 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dracut and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westfield and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
10%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westfield and Hooksett 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±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$87,753±$6kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$114,036±$10k 41% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Dracut 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. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$325,100±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
$473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
| Methuen and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,117±$60Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Methuen 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. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$4,746Lowest 52% above U.S. |
$5,375 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.5%±5.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hooksett and Methuen 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #197 of 282 in MA | #201 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | Hooksett School District | Westfield | Dracut |
| High school in town | Methuen High | None in town | Westfield High | Dracut Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 11.9Lowest |
12.9 |
| 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.