What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

China has the most affordable homes ($240k 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	China
People
Population	15,057Highest	4,526Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.3±1.5Highest 6% above U.S.	40.9±5.9Lowest 5% above U.S.
	Hooksett and China 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%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	China 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 U.S.: 17.2%	21.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	China 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 U.S.: 35.7%	31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S.	$96,309±$12kLowest 19% above U.S.
	Hooksett and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S.	$240,000±$37kLowest 28% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,661±$206 18% above U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,554Highest 110% above U.S.	$2,535Lowest 19% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±16.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	10.6%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hooksett and China 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%	6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	30 minHighest 13% above U.S.
Work from home	13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.6%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hooksett and China 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	#27 of 133 in ME
School district	Hooksett School District	RSU 18
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.