What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).

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	Strafford
People
Population	15,057Highest	1,372Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S.	51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Strafford 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%	22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Strafford 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%	53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hooksett and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S.	$110,833±$19kLowest 37% above U.S.
	Hooksett and Strafford 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.	$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S.
	Strafford 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.	$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S.
	Hooksett and Strafford 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.	$7,149Highest 129% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Strafford 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%	5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.9%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 minHighest about the U.S. average	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Strafford 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	—
School district	Hooksett School District	Strafford School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.