Compare towns
Hooksett vs Lyme vs Townsend
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Townsend has the most kids (21% 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 | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
1,710Lowest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 110% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 120 in NH | — | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Lyme School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.