What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Sterling has the most people working from home (18.3%).

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	Sterling
People
Population	15,057Highest	8,183Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S.	51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Sterling 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%	22.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sterling 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%	48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S.	$129,063±$27kHighest 60% above U.S.
	Sterling 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.	$498,800±$48kHighest 50% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S.	$1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S.
	Sterling and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S.	$6,757Highest 117% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	46%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Sterling 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%	6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1980Lowest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.
Work from home	13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.3%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sterling 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	#135 of 282 in MA
School district	Hooksett School District	Wachusett
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.