Compare towns
Worcester vs Hooksett vs Lynn vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Hooksett has the most homeowners (80.6%).
Lynn has the most expensive homes ($510k median).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
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 | Worcester | Hooksett | Lynn | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
15,057Lowest |
101,709 |
154,749 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5 13% below U.S. |
41.3±1.5Highest 6% above U.S. |
36.5±1.2 6% below U.S. |
33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±1.4 U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Springfield and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.3%±0.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.7%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±0.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2k 13% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$75,043±$3k 7% below U.S. |
$52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7k 13% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$510,100±$23kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38 5% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,722±$60Highest 22% above U.S. |
$1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Lynn and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733 52% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$5,384 73% above U.S. |
$3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±4.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±3.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lynn and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±0.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hooksett and Worcester 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #277 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Hooksett School District | Lynn | Springfield |
| High school in town | South High Community | None in town | Lynn English High | Springfield Central High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6 |
— | 15.0Highest |
12.2Lowest |
| 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.