What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).

Thornton has the most people working from home (29.8%).

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	Hooksett	Thornton
People
Population	5,876Highest	2,799Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+27.4%Highest NH: +4.6%	+8.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.6±2Lowest about the NH average	51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH
Kids under 18	14.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2%	13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Hooksett and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.7%±3.9Highest NH: 20.1%	19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Hooksett and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.4%Lowest NH: 40.6%	46.3%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±3.7Highest NH: 6%	4.8%±2.9Lowest NH: 6%
	Hooksett and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,053±$25kHighest about the NH average	$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH
	Hooksett and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$348,100±$32kLowest 14% below NH	$351,900±$20kHighest 13% below NH
	Thornton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,811±$283Highest 21% above NH	$1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH
	Hooksett and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,960Lowest 26% below NH	$5,032Highest 25% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2%	57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2%
	Thornton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Lowest NH: 7.2%	9.2%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%	88.3%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH	1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 9% above NH	23 minLowest 15% below NH
Work from home	14.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8%	29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#30 of 120 in NH	#18 of 120 in NH
School district	—	Thornton 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.