What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Westfield has the most affordable homes ($325k 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	South Hooksett	Westfield
People
Population	5,902Lowest	40,378Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	35.2±3.6Lowest 10% below U.S.	39.9±1.8Highest about the U.S. average
	Westfield 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%	18.1%±2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Westfield 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%	18.7%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	33.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	10%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$130,000±$15kHighest 61% above U.S.	$87,753±$6kLowest 9% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$433,200±$40kHighest 30% above U.S.	$325,100±$11kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,471±$217Highest 4% above U.S.	$1,117±$60Lowest 21% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,801Highest 118% above U.S.	$4,746Lowest 52% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.1%±25Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	46.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Westfield 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%	10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	27 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	7.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	8.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Westfield 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	—	#197 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Westfield
High school in town	—	Westfield High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.9
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.