Compare towns
Jefferson vs Hooksett vs Unity vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jefferson has the most people working from home (17.5%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Unity has the most homeowners (94.5%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k 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 | Jefferson | Hooksett | Unity | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,013Lowest |
15,057Highest |
1,375 |
3,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-9.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-8.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58±3.5Highest 34% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
58±4.5Highest 34% above NH |
45.5±6.9 5% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±9.1 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.9%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Unity and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.4% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
21.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
30.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.5 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
1%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,188±$13kLowest 32% below NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$87,500±$16k 12% below NH |
$68,911±$23k 30% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,700±$92k 26% below NH |
$407,000±$26kHighest about the NH average |
$276,100±$29k 31% below NH |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
| Hooksett and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$156Lowest 42% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,625±$804 9% above NH |
$1,019±$263 32% below NH |
| Hooksett and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,196Lowest 37% below NH |
$6,554Highest about the NH average |
$5,394 19% below NH |
$4,226 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±71.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±100 NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17 NH: 48.2% |
| Hooksett and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.3% NH: 7.2% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.5% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
94.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 29% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Jefferson and Hooksett 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 | — | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Hooksett School District | Unity School District | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 14 photos → | None yet | 4 photos → | 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.