Compare towns
Lyme vs South Hooksett vs Chester 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).
South Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
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 | South Hooksett | Chester | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
5,902Highest |
5,300 |
2,023 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
| Lyme and Chester 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% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Chester 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% |
13.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
| South 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 |
$130,000±$15kLowest 31% above NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$433,200±$40kLowest 8% above NH |
$552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
$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 |
$1,471±$217 about the NH average |
— | $1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
| Newfields and South 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 |
$6,801Lowest about the NH average |
$8,464 27% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest 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% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Newfields 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 | — | — | #90 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | — | Chester School District | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.