What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).

Boxborough has the most expensive homes ($707k 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	Boxborough
People
Population	15,057Highest	5,496Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S.	42.7±1.6Highest 10% above U.S.
	Boxborough 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%	20%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Boxborough 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%	16.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hooksett and Boxborough 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%	80.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hooksett and Boxborough 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.	$144,611±$35kHighest 79% above U.S.
	Boxborough 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.	$706,900±$72kHighest 112% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S.	$1,887±$173Highest 34% above U.S.
	Boxborough and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55.8%±22.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Boxborough and Hooksett 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%	3.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Lowest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	30 minHighest 14% above U.S.
Work from home	13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.8%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Boxborough 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	#31 of 282 in MA
School district	Hooksett School District	Acton-Boxborough
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.