Compare towns
Worcester vs Windham vs Hooksett vs Lowell
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 the shortest commute (24 min average).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($723k median).
Hooksett has the oldest population (median age 41.3).
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 | Windham | Hooksett | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
16,038 |
15,057Lowest |
118,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Highest 6% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8 8% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 13.3%±0.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hooksett and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,625±$40 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733 52% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Worcester and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #266 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Windham School District | Hooksett School District | Lowell |
| High school in town | South High Community | Windham High School | None in town | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6 |
12.8Lowest |
— | 14.8Highest |
| 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.