What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Berkley has the most expensive homes ($511k 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	Berkley
People
Population	15,057Highest	6,829Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S.	43.4±4.1Highest 12% above U.S.
	Berkley 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 U.S.: 22%	21.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Berkley and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hooksett and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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%	4.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hooksett and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S.	$144,205±$49kHighest 79% above U.S.
	Berkley and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S.	$511,200±$45kHighest 54% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,661±$206 18% above U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,554Highest 110% above U.S.	$6,018Lowest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±16.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hooksett and Berkley 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%	2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1986Lowest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	27 minHighest 4% above U.S.
Work from home	13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.1%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hooksett and Berkley 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	#155 of 282 in MA
School district	Hooksett School District	Berkley
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.