What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k 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	Thetford
People
Population	15,057Highest	2,813Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S.	43.6±6.2Highest 12% above U.S.
	Thetford 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%	15.4%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hooksett and Thetford 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%	20.8%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Thetford 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%	68%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	6.7%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hooksett and Thetford 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.	$88,045±$16kLowest 9% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S.	$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average
	Hooksett and Thetford 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.	$1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S.	$6,948Highest 123% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	49.7%±30.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Thetford 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%	8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.
Work from home	13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Thetford 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	#40 of 70 in VT
School district	Hooksett School District	Thetford 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.