What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Peabody has the most expensive homes ($596k 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	Peabody
People
Population	15,057Lowest	54,695Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S.	45.3±2.4Highest 16% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Peabody and Hooksett 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%	24.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S.	$96,657±$4kLowest 20% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S.	$596,200±$12kHighest 79% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S.	$1,950±$99Highest 38% above U.S.
	Peabody and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,554Highest 110% above U.S.	$5,065Lowest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	58.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Peabody 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%	7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	65.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hooksett and Peabody 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	#228 of 282 in MA
School district	Hooksett School District	Peabody
High school in town	None in town	Peabody Veterans Memorial High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.3
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.