What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bernardston has the shortest commute (20 min average).

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	Bernardston	Hooksett
People
Population	2,164Lowest	15,057Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49±3.2Highest 26% above U.S.	41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%	17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Bernardston and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,940±$10kLowest about the U.S. average	$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$332,000±$15kLowest about the U.S. average	$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,283±$553Lowest 9% below U.S.	$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S.
	Hooksett and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,516Lowest 45% above U.S.	$6,554Highest 110% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	41.7%±16.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hooksett and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 26% below U.S.	27 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	12.7%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hooksett and Bernardston 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	Pioneer Valley	Hooksett School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.