Compare towns
Lyme vs Lee vs Hooksett vs Newfields
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Lyme | Lee | Hooksett | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
4,576 |
15,057Highest |
2,023 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
| Lyme and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
| Newfields and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
— | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
| Newfields and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
95.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Lyme 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 | — | #3 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Hooksett School District | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.