What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hancock has the oldest population (median age 56.3).

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	Hancock
People
Population	15,057Highest	2,518Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S.	56.3±6.4Highest 45% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%	13.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hooksett and Hancock 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%	30.2%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S.	$72,285±$5kLowest 10% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S.	$276,800±$51kLowest 17% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S.	$1,171±$65Lowest 17% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,554Highest 110% above U.S.	$1,869Lowest 40% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	42%±15.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hancock 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%	8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1987Lowest 7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.
Work from home	13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	5.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#30 of 120 in NH	#117 of 133 in ME
School district	Hooksett School District	Hancock 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.