What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Halifax has the most kids (22.2% under 18).

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	Halifax
People
Population	15,057Highest	7,748Lowest
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.	41.9±4.7Highest 8% above U.S.
	Halifax 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%	22.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Halifax 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%	18.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Halifax 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%	36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S.	$118,556±$11kHighest 47% above U.S.
	Halifax 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.	$481,500±$51kHighest 45% above U.S.
	Halifax and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S.	$1,804±$375Highest 28% above U.S.
	Halifax 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.	$6,840Highest 119% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	45.6%±37.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Halifax and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.5%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 minLowest about the U.S. average	35 minHighest 34% above U.S.
Work from home	13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Halifax 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	#120 of 282 in MA
School district	Hooksett School District	Halifax
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.