What stands out worked out from the figures below

Charleston has the most affordable homes ($238k 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	Charleston	Hooksett
People
Population	936Lowest	15,057Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	58.4±9.3Highest 50% above U.S.	41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S.
Kids under 18	11.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	17.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Hooksett and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	37.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$49,286±$17kLowest 39% below U.S.	$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$238,000±$53kLowest 28% below U.S.	$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$979±$444Lowest 31% below U.S.	$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,750Lowest 20% above U.S.	$6,554Highest 110% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.7%±26.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	41.7%±16.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hooksett and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest same as U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	27 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	18.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Charleston and Hooksett 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	Charleston School District	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.