What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).

Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ashland	Hooksett
People
Population	2,183Lowest	15,057Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.3±11.2Highest about the NH average	41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH
	Ashland and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2%	17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Ashland and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1%	17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%	39.6%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6%	8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH	$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH	$407,000±$26kHighest about the NH average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH	$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,961Lowest 26% below NH	$6,554Highest about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2%	41.7%±16.4Highest NH: 48.2%
	Hooksett and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	21.1%Highest NH: 7.2%	3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	80.6%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH	1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 4% below NH	27 minHighest about the NH average
Work from home	9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8%	13.4%±3.1Highest NH: 16.8%
	Hooksett and Ashland 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
School district	Ashland School District	Hooksett School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.