What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Taunton has the most kids (21.6% under 18).

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	Taunton
People
Population	5,902Lowest	60,433Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	35.2±3.6Lowest 10% below U.S.	38.9±1.3Highest about the U.S. average
	Taunton and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Taunton 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 U.S.: 17.2%	15%±1.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Taunton 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	23.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$130,000±$15kHighest 61% above U.S.	$79,283±$7kLowest about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$433,200±$40kHighest 30% above U.S.	$422,800±$9kLowest 27% above U.S.
	South Hooksett and Taunton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,471±$217Highest 4% above U.S.	$1,324±$86Lowest 6% below U.S.
	South Hooksett and Taunton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,801Highest 118% above U.S.	$4,344Lowest 39% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.1%±25Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Taunton 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 U.S.: 12.5%	13%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	62.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	7.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	8%±1.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Taunton and South Hooksett 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	—	#253 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Bristol-Plymouth Regional Vocational Technical · Taunton
High school in town	—	Taunton High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	16.6
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.