What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

East Machias has the most affordable homes ($211k 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	East Machias
People
Population	15,057Highest	1,223Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S.	42.8±2.9Highest 10% above U.S.
	East Machias 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%	23.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	East Machias 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%	19.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	East Machias 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%	33.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S.	$57,589±$10kLowest 29% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S.	$210,800±$23kLowest 37% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S.	$907±$566Lowest 36% below U.S.
	Hooksett and East Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,554Highest 110% above U.S.	$1,836Lowest 41% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.4%±40.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	East Machias 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%	15.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	83.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	18 minLowest 33% below U.S.
Work from home	13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	4.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#30 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Hooksett School District	East Machias Public Schools
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.