What stands out worked out from the figures below

Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).

Hooksett has the oldest population (median age 41.3).

Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Durham	Hooksett
People
Population	15,080Highest	15,057Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH	41.3±1.5Highest 5% below NH
Kids under 18	10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2%	17.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1%	17.3%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	75.4%Highest NH: 40.6%	39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6%	8.9%±1.6Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH	$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH
	Durham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH	$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH	$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH
	Hooksett and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH	$6,554Lowest about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2%	41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Durham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.1%Highest NH: 7.2%	3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8%	80.6%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH	1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 27% below NH	27 minHighest about the NH average
Work from home	19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8%	13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Durham 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	#9 of 120 in NH	#30 of 120 in NH
School district	Oyster River Coop School District	Hooksett School District
High school in town	Oyster River High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.3	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	51 photos →	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.