Compare towns
Lancaster vs Hooksett vs Guildhall vs Jefferson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Hooksett has the most expensive homes ($407k median).
Guildhall has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Jefferson has the most people working from home (17.5%).
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 | Lancaster | Hooksett | Guildhall | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,216 |
15,057Highest |
371Lowest |
1,013 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.6±7.8 10% above U.S. |
58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±7.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Guildhall and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±9.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jefferson and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,911±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$115,000±$46k 42% above U.S. |
$67,188±$13kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$321,200±$62k 3% below U.S. |
$296,700±$92k 11% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$850±$717Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$867±$156 39% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,226 35% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$4,625 48% above U.S. |
$4,196Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Guildhall and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | White Mountains Regional School District | Hooksett School District | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 14 photos → |
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.