Compare towns
Hooksett vs Lyme vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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 | Hooksett | Lyme | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
1,710Lowest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Lyme and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| Lyme and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
| Plainfield and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Plainfield 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Lyme School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.