What stands out worked out from the figures below

East Machias has the most affordable homes ($211k 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	East Machias	Hooksett
People
Population	1,223Lowest	15,057Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±2.9Highest 10% above U.S.	41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S.
	East Machias and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22%	17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	East Machias and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	East Machias and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$57,589±$10kLowest 29% below U.S.	$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$210,800±$23kLowest 37% below U.S.	$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$907±$566Lowest 36% below U.S.	$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S.
	Hooksett and East Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,836Lowest 41% below U.S.	$6,554Highest 110% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±40.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	East Machias and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 33% below U.S.	27 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	4.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#30 of 120 in NH
School district	East Machias 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.