What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Nahant has the most expensive homes ($749k 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	Nahant
People
Population	15,057Highest	3,325Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S.	60.7±2.9Highest 56% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%	11%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	36.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	61.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S.	$112,762±$6kLowest 40% above U.S.
	Hooksett and Nahant 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.	$748,800±$99kHighest 125% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S.	$1,777±$334Highest 26% above U.S.
	Nahant 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.	$6,615Highest 112% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	53.5%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Nahant 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%	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	32 minHighest 21% above U.S.
Work from home	13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.7%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Nahant 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	#129 of 282 in MA
School district	Hooksett School District	Nahant
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.