What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Strafford has the most people working from home (15.9%).

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	South Hooksett	Strafford
People
Population	5,902Highest	4,306Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.7%Highest NH: +4.6%	+6%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH	46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH
Kids under 18	16.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2%	17.6%±3.5Highest NH: 18.2%
	Strafford and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1%	19.4%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1%
	Strafford 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+	37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%	40.2%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6%	5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$130,000±$15kHighest 31% above NH	$122,105±$22kLowest 23% above NH
	South Hooksett and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$433,200±$40kHighest 8% above NH	$427,900±$29kLowest 6% above NH
	South Hooksett and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,471±$217Lowest about the NH average	$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH
	Strafford and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,801Highest about the NH average	$6,086Lowest 9% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.1%±25Lowest NH: 48.2%	76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2%
	Strafford and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Lowest NH: 7.2%	8%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%	93.5%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985 6 yrs newer than NH	1985 6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the NH average	36 minHighest 34% above NH
Work from home	7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8%	15.9%±5Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#73 of 120 in NH
School district	—	Strafford School District
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

NH 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.