What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Putnam has the most affordable homes ($266k 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	Putnam
People
Population	15,057Highest	540Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S.	53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22%	17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S.	$92,344±$14kLowest 14% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S.	$266,200±$48kLowest 20% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,661±$206 18% above U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,554Highest 110% above U.S.	$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±16.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hooksett and Putnam 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%	7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	21 minLowest 19% below U.S.
Work from home	13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hooksett and Putnam 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	PUTNAM CENTRAL 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.