What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).

Ashby has the most people working from home (17.8%).

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	Ashby
People
Population	15,057Highest	3,211Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S.	50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%	17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hooksett and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ashby and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	43.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S.	$115,598±$9kLowest 43% above U.S.
	Hooksett and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S.	$390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S.
	Hooksett and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S.	$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S.
	Hooksett and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,554Highest 110% above U.S.	$6,034Lowest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±16.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hooksett and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ashby 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	#30 of 120 in NH	#200 of 282 in MA
School district	Hooksett School District	North Middlesex
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.