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NHNew Hampshire rankings

Towns that borrow the most from their library in New Hampshire

Ranked by books, movies, e-books and other items the town’s public library lent in a year, per resident. 122 towns with 2,500+ residents.

IMLS Public Libraries Survey, fiscal year 2024

Hooksett
New Hampshire · Most library borrowing

Where Hooksett lands: #11 of 122

12.6 per resident books, movies & e-books borrowed a year · Visit Hooksett →

Hanover 1 Hanover Grafton County 18.8 per resident Howe Library Amherst 2 Amherst Hillsborough County 17.2 per resident Amherst Town Library Portsmouth 3 Portsmouth 16.6 per resident Portsmouth Public Library
#TownLoans per residentLibraryLoans a year
1 Hanover HanoverGrafton County · 11,685 people 18.8 per resident Howe Library 223,906
2 Amherst AmherstHillsborough County · 11,861 people 17.2 per resident Amherst Town Library 204,558
3 Portsmouth Portsmouth22,545 people 16.6 per resident Portsmouth Public Library 367,974
4 Bedford BedfordHillsborough County · 23,746 people 15.4 per resident Bedford Public Library 367,972
5 New London New LondonMerrimack County · 4,433 people 15.3 per resident Tracy Memorial Library 67,640
6 Map of Hopkinton HopkintonMerrimack County · 6,037 people 14.9 per resident Hopkinton Town Library 89,022
7 Plainfield PlainfieldSullivan County · 2,522 people 14.3 per resident Philip Read Memorial Library 35,918
8 Moultonborough MoultonboroughCarroll County · 5,126 people 13.9 per resident Moultonborough Public Library 69,120
9 Bristol BristolGrafton County · 3,273 people 13.3 per resident Minot-Sleeper Library 43,615
10 Sunapee SunapeeSullivan County · 3,416 people 13.1 per resident Abbott Library 44,139
11 Hooksett HooksettMerrimack County · 15,057 people 12.6 per resident Hooksett Public Library 190,594
12 Gilford GilfordBelknap County · 7,830 people 12.4 per resident Gilford Public Library 96,363
13 Peterborough PeterboroughHillsborough County · 6,408 people 12.3 per resident Peterborough Town Library 80,309
14 Grantham GranthamSullivan County · 3,465 people 12.3 per resident Dunbar Free Library 42,278
15 Wolfeboro WolfeboroCarroll County · 6,571 people 12.2 per resident Wolfeboro Public Library 78,918
16 Windham WindhamRockingham County · 16,038 people 12.1 per resident Nesmith Library 195,031
17 Tuftonboro TuftonboroCarroll County · 2,569 people 12.0 per resident Tuftonboro Free Library 30,186
18 Jaffrey JaffreyCheshire County · 5,448 people 11.5 per resident Jaffrey Public Library 62,079
19 Tamworth TamworthCarroll County · 2,884 people 11.4 per resident Cook Memorial Library 32,586
20 Meredith MeredithBelknap County · 6,758 people 9.3 per resident Meredith Public Library 62,791
21 North Hampton North HamptonRockingham County · 4,543 people 9.2 per resident North Hampton Public Library 41,844
22 Danville DanvilleRockingham County · 4,531 people 9.1 per resident Colby Memorial Library 40,887
23 Keene Keene22,939 people 9.0 per resident Keene Public Library 203,873
24 Madison MadisonCarroll County · 2,680 people 9.0 per resident Madison Library 23,742
25 Bethlehem BethlehemGrafton County · 2,537 people 9.0 per resident Bethlehem Public Library 22,764
26 Rindge RindgeCheshire County · 6,497 people 8.9 per resident Ingalls Memorial Library 57,335
27 Hollis HollisHillsborough County · 8,603 people 8.8 per resident Hollis Social Library 76,157
28 Bow BowMerrimack County · 8,335 people 8.8 per resident Baker Free Library 73,041
29 Walpole WalpoleCheshire County · 3,690 people 8.7 per resident Walpole Town Library 31,736
30 Lancaster LancasterCoos County · 3,216 people 8.6 per resident William D. Weeks Memorial Library 27,967
31 Lebanon Lebanon14,999 people 8.5 per resident Lebanon Public Library 128,058
32 Hampton HamptonRockingham County · 16,426 people 8.3 per resident Lane Memorial Library 137,095
33 Brentwood BrentwoodRockingham County · 4,641 people 8.3 per resident Mary E. Bartlett Library 38,607
34 Map of Merrimack MerrimackHillsborough County · 28,164 people 8.1 per resident Merrimack Public Library 230,090
35 Rye RyeRockingham County · 5,611 people 8.1 per resident Rye Public Library 45,338
36 Sanbornton SanborntonBelknap County · 3,053 people 8.1 per resident Sanbornton Public Library 24,722
37 Exeter ExeterRockingham County · 16,151 people 7.9 per resident Exeter Public Library 129,165
38 Milford MilfordHillsborough County · 16,337 people 7.8 per resident William Y. Wadleigh Memorial Library 130,004
39 Atkinson AtkinsonRockingham County · 7,267 people 7.7 per resident Kimball Library 56,381
40 Dover Dover33,364 people 7.6 per resident Dover Public Library 251,813
41 Plymouth PlymouthGrafton County · 6,601 people 7.5 per resident Pease Public Library 49,414
42 Map of Nottingham NottinghamRockingham County · 5,357 people 7.5 per resident Blaisdell Memorial Library 40,032
43 Lee LeeStrafford County · 4,576 people 7.5 per resident Lee Public Library 34,323
44 Hampstead HampsteadRockingham County · 9,102 people 7.4 per resident Hampstead Public Library 67,634
45 Wilton WiltonHillsborough County · 3,960 people 7.4 per resident Wilton Public & Gregg Free Library 29,194
46 Barrington BarringtonStrafford County · 9,489 people 7.2 per resident Barrington Public Library 68,589
47 Greenland GreenlandRockingham County · 4,106 people 7.2 per resident Weeks Public Library 29,571
48 Map of Warner WarnerMerrimack County · 2,959 people 7.2 per resident Pillsbury Free Library 21,548
49 Durham DurhamStrafford County · 15,080 people 7.1 per resident Durham Public Library 103,918
50 New Durham New DurhamStrafford County · 2,748 people 7.0 per resident New Durham Public Library 19,398
51 Londonderry LondonderryRockingham County · 26,685 people 6.9 per resident Leach Library 184,653
52 Brookline BrooklineHillsborough County · 5,736 people 6.9 per resident Brookline Public Library 40,456
53 Fremont FremontRockingham County · 4,831 people 6.8 per resident Fremont Public Library 33,190
54 Canaan CanaanGrafton County · 3,811 people 6.8 per resident Canaan Town Library 26,353
55 Newmarket NewmarketRockingham County · 9,463 people 6.7 per resident Newmarket Public Library 63,769
56 Chichester ChichesterMerrimack County · 2,745 people 6.7 per resident Chichester Town Library 18,271
57 Conway ConwayCarroll County · 10,141 people 6.6 per resident Conway Public Library 71,147
58 Pelham PelhamHillsborough County · 14,449 people 6.4 per resident Pelham Public Library 93,187
59 Plaistow PlaistowRockingham County · 7,861 people 6.4 per resident Plaistow Public Library 50,757
60 New Boston New BostonHillsborough County · 6,165 people 6.3 per resident Whipple Free Library 39,497
61 Epsom EpsomMerrimack County · 4,939 people 6.1 per resident Epsom Public Library 29,727
62 Strafford StraffordStrafford County · 4,306 people 6.1 per resident Hill Library 26,049
63 Mont Vernon Mont VernonHillsborough County · 2,636 people 6.1 per resident Daland Memorial Library 16,072
64 Laconia Laconia17,085 people 6.0 per resident Laconia Public Library 102,178
65 Newport NewportSullivan County · 6,375 people 5.9 per resident Richards Free Library 37,498
66 Enfield EnfieldGrafton County · 4,475 people 5.9 per resident Enfield Public Library 26,743
67 Concord Concord44,375 people 5.7 per resident Concord Public Library 253,385
68 Gorham GorhamCoos County · 2,682 people 5.7 per resident Gorham Public Library 15,508
69 Whitefield WhitefieldCoos County · 2,516 people 5.7 per resident Whitefield Public Library 14,475
70 Kingston KingstonRockingham County · 6,275 people 5.6 per resident Kingston Community Library 36,003
71 Auburn AuburnRockingham County · 6,119 people 5.6 per resident Griffin Free Public Library 34,380
72 Stratham StrathamRockingham County · 7,754 people 5.4 per resident Wiggin Memorial Library 41,951
73 Hillsborough HillsboroughHillsborough County · 5,980 people 5.4 per resident Fuller Public Library 32,474
74 Derry DerryRockingham County · 34,116 people 5.3 per resident Derry Public Library 183,773
75 Goffstown GoffstownHillsborough County · 18,513 people 5.3 per resident Goffstown Public Library 98,680
76 Littleton LittletonGrafton County · 6,040 people 5.3 per resident Littleton Public Library 32,155
77 Weare WeareHillsborough County · 9,170 people 5.2 per resident Weare Public Library 48,196
78 Chesterfield ChesterfieldCheshire County · 3,622 people 5.2 per resident Chesterfield Public Library 18,525
79 Litchfield LitchfieldHillsborough County · 8,499 people 5.0 per resident Aaron Cutler Memorial Library 42,626
80 Deerfield DeerfieldRockingham County · 4,932 people 5.0 per resident Philbrick-James Library 24,594
81 Candia CandiaRockingham County · 4,134 people 4.9 per resident Smyth Public Library 20,499
82 Dunbarton DunbartonMerrimack County · 3,097 people 4.9 per resident Dunbarton Public Library 15,043
83 Map of Sandown SandownRockingham County · 6,628 people 4.6 per resident Sandown Public Library 30,877
84 Loudon LoudonMerrimack County · 5,692 people 4.6 per resident Maxfield Public Library 26,012
85 Barnstead BarnsteadBelknap County · 4,994 people 4.6 per resident Oscar Foss Memorial Library 22,664
86 Northwood NorthwoodRockingham County · 4,688 people 4.6 per resident Chesley Memorial Library 21,545
87 Alton AltonBelknap County · 5,994 people 4.5 per resident Gilman Library 27,009
88 Rollinsford RollinsfordStrafford County · 2,626 people 4.4 per resident Rollinsford Public Library 11,687
89 Rochester Rochester33,144 people 4.3 per resident Rochester Public Library 140,852
90 Nashua Nashua91,294 people 4.2 per resident Nashua Public Library 388,897
91 Hudson HudsonHillsborough County · 25,557 people 4.2 per resident George H. and Ella M. Rodgers Memorial Library 109,572
92 Farmington FarmingtonStrafford County · 6,795 people 4.2 per resident Goodwin Library 28,746
93 Wakefield WakefieldCarroll County · 5,405 people 4.2 per resident Gafney Library 25,181
94 Epping EppingRockingham County · 7,430 people 4.1 per resident Harvey-Mitchell Memorial Library 30,856
95 Map of Pembroke PembrokeMerrimack County · 7,438 people 4.0 per resident Pembroke Town Library 29,764
96 Belmont BelmontBelknap County · 7,392 people 4.0 per resident Belmont Public Library 30,046
97 Somersworth Somersworth12,111 people 3.9 per resident Somersworth Public Library 47,184
98 Map of Salem SalemRockingham County · 30,964 people 3.7 per resident Kelley Library 113,894
99 Seabrook SeabrookRockingham County · 8,427 people 3.7 per resident Seabrook Library 31,174
100 Pittsfield PittsfieldMerrimack County · 4,105 people 3.5 per resident Josiah Carpenter Library 14,468
101 Gilmanton GilmantonBelknap County · 4,026 people 3.5 per resident Gilmanton Year-Round Library Association 13,914
102 Bartlett BartlettCarroll County · 3,281 people 3.5 per resident Bartlett Public Library 11,350
103 Newton NewtonRockingham County · 4,836 people 3.4 per resident Gale Library 16,575
104 Boscawen BoscawenMerrimack County · 4,044 people 3.4 per resident Boscawen Public Library 13,343
105 Claremont Claremont13,078 people 3.3 per resident Fiske Free Library 43,124
106 Chester ChesterRockingham County · 5,300 people 3.3 per resident Chester Public Library 17,485
107 New Hampton New HamptonBelknap County · 2,509 people 3.2 per resident Gordon-Nash Library at New Hampton School 7,674
108 Raymond RaymondRockingham County · 10,900 people 2.9 per resident Dudley-Tucker Library 31,914
109 Manchester Manchester115,643 people 2.6 per resident Manchester City Library 299,288
110 New Ipswich New IpswichHillsborough County · 5,310 people 2.5 per resident New Ipswich Library 13,096
111 Winchester WinchesterCheshire County · 4,212 people 2.5 per resident Thayer Public Library 10,322
112 Map of Thornton ThorntonGrafton County · 2,799 people 2.5 per resident Thornton Public Library 7,084
113 Ossipee OssipeeCarroll County · 4,521 people 2.4 per resident Ossipee Public Library 10,659
114 Franklin Franklin8,799 people 2.3 per resident Franklin Public Library 20,136
115 Campton CamptonGrafton County · 3,407 people 2.1 per resident Campton Public Library 7,155
116 Berlin Berlin9,383 people 1.7 per resident Berlin Public Library 16,581
117 Swanzey SwanzeyCheshire County · 7,398 people 1.6 per resident Mt. Caesar Union Library 11,564
118 Charlestown CharlestownSullivan County · 4,889 people 1.6 per resident Silsby Free Public Library 7,888
119 Allenstown AllenstownMerrimack County · 4,743 people 1.5 per resident Allenstown Public Library 7,427
120 Haverhill HaverhillGrafton County · 4,611 people 1.4 per resident Haverhill Library Association 6,304
121 Milton MiltonStrafford County · 4,538 people 0.4 per resident Nute Library 1,597
122 Hinsdale HinsdaleCheshire County · 3,997 people 0.4 per resident Hinsdale Public Library 1,662

How this ranking works

We rank every town by books, movies, e-books and other items the town’s public library lent in a year, per resident. The highest figure ranks #1. Each library reports its own yearly numbers to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (fiscal year 2024), and each town’s Library page shows how it compares with libraries of a similar size nationwide.

A town is ranked only when its library system serves that town alone, and the library’s own count of the people it serves is within 20% of the town’s population. Towns served by a county or regional system, or sharing a library with a neighbor, can’t be credited with the numbers, so they aren’t ranked. Libraries that didn’t respond to the survey aren’t ranked either. Vacation towns can rank high because summer residents and visitors use the library too.

Only towns with at least 2,500 residents are ranked; Census estimates for smaller places are too uncertain. Population and income: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Libraries: IMLS Public Libraries Survey. Town photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each town’s page.

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