What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).

West Bridgewater has the most expensive homes ($504k 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	West Bridgewater
People
Population	15,057Highest	7,708Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+11.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.3±1.5Highest 6% above U.S.	38.4±4.4Lowest about the U.S. average
	Hooksett and West Bridgewater 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%	18.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	West Bridgewater 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%	19.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	West Bridgewater 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%	43.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S.	$123,406±$23kHighest 53% above U.S.
	West Bridgewater 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.	$503,800±$47kHighest 51% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S.	$1,921±$320Highest 36% above U.S.
	West Bridgewater and Hooksett 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.	$6,471Lowest 107% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	52.5%±22.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	West Bridgewater 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.6%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hooksett and West Bridgewater 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	#186 of 282 in MA
School district	Hooksett School District	West Bridgewater
High school in town	None in town	West Bridgewater Junior/Senior
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.2
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.