What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Charlestown has the most affordable homes ($228k 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	Charlestown
People
Population	15,057Highest	4,889Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	-6%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH	41.6±8.5Highest 4% below NH
	Charlestown 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%	22.4%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2%
	Charlestown 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%	22.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1%
	Charlestown and Hooksett 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 NH: 40.6%	12.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6%	3.9%±3.2Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH	$47,338±$23kLowest 52% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$407,000±$26kHighest about the NH average	$228,000±$62kLowest 43% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH	$1,099±$85Lowest 26% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,554Highest about the NH average	$5,143Lowest 23% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2%	65%±24.9Highest NH: 48.2%
	Charlestown 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 NH: 7.2%	14.8%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.6%Highest NH: 72.8%	78.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the NH average	24 minLowest 10% below NH
Work from home	13.4%±3.1Highest NH: 16.8%	7.6%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Hooksett and Charlestown 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	#113 of 120 in NH
School district	Hooksett School District	Fall Mountain Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.