What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k 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	Kensington
People
Population	15,057Highest	2,009Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH	43.3±5.9Highest about the NH average
	Kensington and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2%	17.1%±2.6Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Hooksett and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1%	18.8%±2.9Highest NH: 20.1%
	Kensington 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%Lowest NH: 40.6%	48.5%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6%	3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH	$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average	$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,661±$206Lowest 11% above NH	$1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH
	Kensington and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,554Lowest about the NH average	$9,637Highest 45% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±16.4Highest NH: 48.2%	24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Hooksett and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.3%Highest NH: 7.2%	1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	92.9%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH	1987Lowest 8 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the NH average	29 minHighest 7% above NH
Work from home	13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8%	19.2%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8%
	Kensington 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	—
School district	Hooksett School District	Kensington School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

NH 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.