What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dedham has the most kids (23.8% under 18).

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	Dedham	Hooksett
People
Population	1,656Lowest	15,057Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.5±2.2Highest 20% above U.S.	41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S.
Kids under 18	23.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%	17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Dedham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dedham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,442±$18kLowest 38% above U.S.	$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S.
	Hooksett and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$356,400±$33kLowest 7% above U.S.	$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S.
	Hooksett and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,422±$607Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S.
	Hooksett and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,942Lowest 26% above U.S.	$6,554Highest 110% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	13%±85.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	41.7%±16.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hooksett and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 14% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	9.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hooksett and Dedham 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	Dedham Public Schools	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.