What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Thomaston has the shortest commute (14 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	Thomaston
People
Population	15,057Highest	2,769Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S.	58.1±6.6Highest 49% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.2%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Thomaston 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%	35.5%±8.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S.	$56,435±$13kLowest 30% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S.	$271,700±$10kLowest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S.	$1,262±$343Lowest 11% below U.S.
	Hooksett and Thomaston 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.	$4,487Lowest 44% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	60.5%±23.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Thomaston 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%	6.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	14 minLowest 48% below U.S.
Work from home	13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	4.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#30 of 120 in NH	#99 of 133 in ME
School district	Hooksett School District	RSU 13
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.