What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hancock has the oldest population (median age 56.3).

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	Hancock	Hooksett
People
Population	2,518Lowest	15,057Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	56.3±6.4Highest 45% above U.S.	41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S.
Kids under 18	13.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	17.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Hooksett and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.2%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,285±$5kLowest 10% below U.S.	$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$276,800±$51kLowest 17% below U.S.	$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,171±$65Lowest 17% below U.S.	$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,869Lowest 40% below U.S.	$6,554Highest 110% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42%±15.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hancock and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Lowest 7 yrs newer than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	5.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#117 of 133 in ME	#30 of 120 in NH
School district	Hancock 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.