What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Beals has the most affordable homes ($257k 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	Beals
People
Population	15,057Highest	498Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-12.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S.	48±15.6Highest 23% above U.S.
	Beals and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%	16.1%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hooksett and Beals 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%	30.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	37.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.8%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hooksett and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S.	$64,063±$14kLowest 21% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S.	$256,700±$45kLowest 23% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S.	$907±$378Lowest 36% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,554Highest 110% above U.S.	$2,580Lowest 17% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±16.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	7.4%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hooksett and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	83.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	21 minLowest 22% below U.S.
Work from home	13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.6%±10.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Beals 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	—
School district	Hooksett School District	Beals Public Schools
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.