What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hooksett has the most people working from home (13.4%).

Southampton has the shortest commute (22 min average).

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	Southampton
People
Population	15,057Highest	6,230Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S.	43.4±3.5Highest 12% above U.S.
	Southampton 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 U.S.: 22%	19.1%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Southampton 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%	21.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Southampton 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	41.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.7%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S.	$123,125±$23kHighest 53% above U.S.
	Southampton 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.	$452,300±$25kHighest 36% above U.S.
	Southampton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,661±$206 18% above U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,554Highest 110% above U.S.	$5,470Lowest 75% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±16.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	26.2%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hooksett and Southampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	22 minLowest 15% below U.S.
Work from home	13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hooksett and Southampton 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	#205 of 282 in MA
School district	Hooksett School District	Southampton
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.