What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hooksett has the most people working from home (13.4%).

Irasburg has the most affordable homes ($231k 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	Irasburg
People
Population	15,057Highest	1,384Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.3±1.5Highest 6% above U.S.	40.3±5.3Lowest 4% above U.S.
	Hooksett and Irasburg 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%	24.4%±3Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.5%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Irasburg 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%	23.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S.	$98,534±$13kLowest 22% above U.S.
	Hooksett and Irasburg 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.	$230,800±$22kLowest 31% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S.	$1,063±$86Lowest 25% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,554Highest 110% above U.S.	$3,966Lowest 27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±16.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	17%±28.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hooksett and Irasburg 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%	2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1988 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.
Work from home	13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	5.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#30 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Hooksett School District	Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District
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.