Compare towns
Hudson vs Lyme vs Windham vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k 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 | Hudson | Lyme | Windham | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,557Highest |
1,710Lowest |
16,038 |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.7±1.9 6% above NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Lyme and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,213±$6k 25% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $438,900±$11k 9% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Windham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,735±$123 16% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,636 about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Windham 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 | #63 of 120 in NH | — | #13 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hudson School District | Lyme School District | Windham School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Alvirne High School | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.