What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hooksett has the most homeowners (80.6%).

Cambridge has the most expensive homes ($1092k median).

Cambridge is a college town. 25.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Cambridge
People
Population	15,057Lowest	118,796Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+12.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.3±1.5Highest 6% above U.S.	30.4±0.4Lowest 22% below U.S.
Kids under 18	17.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%	12.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	12.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	80.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	25.1%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S.	$130,748±$4kHighest 62% above U.S.
	Cambridge 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.	$1,092,100±$42kHighest 228% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S.	$2,787±$48Highest 97% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,554Highest 110% above U.S.	$4,802Lowest 54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	45%±2.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Cambridge 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%	12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	33.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	30.8%±1.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#30 of 120 in NH	#122 of 282 in MA
School district	Hooksett School District	Cambridge
High school in town	None in town	Cambridge Rindge and Latin
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.3
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.