What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rome has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.7%).

South Hooksett has the highest household income ($130k).

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	Rome	South Hooksett
People
Population	1,215Lowest	5,902Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.3±9.2Highest 24% above U.S.	35.2±3.6Lowest 10% below U.S.
Kids under 18	21.4%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22%	16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Rome and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.7%±9.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	13.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Rome and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	14.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,639±$25kLowest 4% below U.S.	$130,000±$15kHighest 61% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$329,300±$36kLowest about the U.S. average	$433,200±$40kHighest 30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,150±$56Lowest 19% below U.S.	$1,471±$217Highest 4% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,829Lowest 41% below U.S.	$6,801Highest 118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.2%±59.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	36.1%±25Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Rome and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.	1985Lowest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 13% above U.S.	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	7.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Rome and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.