Compare towns
Newfields vs Hooksett vs Dracut vs Lyme
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Dracut has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Newfields | Hooksett | Dracut | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,023 |
15,057 |
32,574Highest |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Dracut and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$114,036±$10kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,839±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Newfields and Dracut 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 221% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$5,375Lowest 72% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #30 of 120 in NH | #201 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Newfields School District | Hooksett School District | Dracut | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Dracut Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.