What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ryegate has the most affordable homes ($219k median).

South Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).

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	Ryegate	South Hooksett
People
Population	1,059Lowest	5,902Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.2±2.6Highest 6% above U.S.	35.2±3.6Lowest 10% below U.S.
	Ryegate and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%	16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Ryegate and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	13.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	14.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below U.S.	$130,000±$15kHighest 61% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$219,300±$32kLowest 34% below U.S.	$433,200±$40kHighest 30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$908±$236Lowest 36% below U.S.	$1,471±$217Highest 4% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,472Lowest 11% above U.S.	$6,801Highest 118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.9%±29.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	36.1%±25Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ryegate and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1949Lowest 31 yrs older than U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	8.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ryegate 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.