What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Shirley has the most people working from home (21%).

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	Shirley
People
Population	15,057Highest	6,976Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S.	44.3±3.4Highest 14% above U.S.
	Shirley 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 U.S.: 22%	16.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hooksett and Shirley 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%	19.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Shirley 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	36.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.7%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hooksett and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S.	$122,365±$16kHighest 52% above U.S.
	Shirley and Hooksett 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.	$427,600±$36kHighest 29% above U.S.
	Shirley and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S.	$1,481±$421Lowest 5% above U.S.
	Hooksett and Shirley 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.	$5,156Lowest 65% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Shirley 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%	9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	77.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1984Lowest 4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	40 minHighest 53% above U.S.
Work from home	13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Shirley 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	#239 of 282 in MA
School district	Hooksett School District	Ayer Shirley 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.