What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Bath has the most affordable homes ($234k median).

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	Bath
People
Population	15,057Highest	1,097Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	0%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH	48.6±8.6Highest 12% above NH
	Bath and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2%	21.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2%
	Bath and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1%	26.1%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.6%Highest NH: 40.6%	26.8%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6%	2.4%±2Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH	$67,813±$22kLowest 32% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$407,000±$26kHighest about the NH average	$234,400±$23kLowest 42% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH	$1,438±$309Lowest 4% below NH
	Hooksett and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,554Highest about the NH average	$4,413Lowest 34% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±16.4Highest NH: 48.2%	5.9%±61.3Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Hooksett and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2%	8.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	90.9%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the NH average	26 minLowest 4% below NH
Work from home	13.4%±3.1Highest NH: 16.8%	11.1%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Hooksett and Bath 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	—
School district	Hooksett School District	Bath School District
High school in town	None 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.