What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).

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	Nelson
People
Population	15,057Highest	648Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH	42.3±11.7Highest about the NH average
	Nelson 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 NH: 18.2%	27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1%	24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6%	61.1%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6%	0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH	$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average
	Hooksett and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$407,000±$26kHighest about the NH average	$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH
	Hooksett and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH	$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,554Highest about the NH average	$5,575Lowest 16% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±16.4Highest NH: 48.2%	40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Hooksett and Nelson 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%	1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	90.2%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH	1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the NH average	24 minLowest 9% below NH
Work from home	13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8%	31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#30 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Hooksett School District	Nelson 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.