What stands out worked out from the figures below

Henniker has the shortest commute (20 min average).

Hooksett has the oldest population (median age 42.6).

Henniker is a college town. 27% 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	Henniker	Hooksett
People
Population	6,197Highest	5,876Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+27.9%Highest NH: +4.6%	+27.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	31.1±6.1Lowest 28% below NH	42.6±2Highest about the NH average
Kids under 18	15.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2%	14.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Henniker and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.5%±6Lowest NH: 20.1%	20.7%±3.9Highest NH: 20.1%
	Hooksett and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.4% NH: 40.6%	41.4% NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	27%±6.5Highest NH: 6%	6.2%±3.7Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,206±$21kLowest 4% below NH	$101,053±$25kHighest about the NH average
	Hooksett and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$356,700±$49kHighest 11% below NH	$348,100±$32kLowest 14% below NH
	Henniker and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH	$1,811±$283Highest 21% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,877Highest 33% above NH	$4,960Lowest 26% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.5%±22.6Lowest NH: 48.2%	46%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2%
	Hooksett and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.6%Highest NH: 7.2%	4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%	72.5%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH	1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 24% below NH	29 minHighest 9% above NH
Work from home	15.5%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8%	14.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Henniker 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	#56 of 120 in NH	#30 of 120 in NH
School district	Henniker School District	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	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.