What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Winchester has the most affordable homes ($243k 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	Winchester
People
Population	5,902Highest	4,212Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.7%Highest NH: +4.6%	-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH	42.6±4.5Highest about the NH average
	Winchester 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 NH: 18.2%	18.9%±4.7Highest NH: 18.2%
	Winchester 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%	17.9%±3.9Highest NH: 20.1%
	Winchester 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 NH: 40.6%	20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6%	2.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$130,000±$15kHighest 31% above NH	$67,723±$11kLowest 32% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$433,200±$40kHighest 8% above NH	$242,900±$20kLowest 40% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,471±$217Highest about the NH average	$1,209±$143Lowest 19% below NH
	South Hooksett and Winchester 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	$5,314Lowest 20% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.1%±25Lowest NH: 48.2%	45%±17.7Highest NH: 48.2%
	Winchester 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%	14.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.9%Highest NH: 72.8%	72.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the NH average	29 minHighest 7% above NH
Work from home	7.1%±2.4Highest NH: 16.8%	4.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8%
	South Hooksett and Winchester 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	—	#120 of 120 in NH
School district	—	Winchester School District
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.