What stands out worked out from the figures below

China has the most affordable homes ($240k 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	China	Hooksett
People
Population	4,526Lowest	15,057Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±5.9Lowest 5% above U.S.	41.3±1.5Highest 6% above U.S.
	Hooksett and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22%	17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	China and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	China and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$96,309±$12kLowest 19% above U.S.	$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S.
	Hooksett and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$240,000±$37kLowest 28% below U.S.	$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,661±$206 18% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,535Lowest 19% below U.S.	$6,554Highest 110% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	10.6%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	41.7%±16.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hooksett and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 13% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	12.6%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hooksett and China 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	#27 of 133 in ME	#30 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 18	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.