What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wakefield has the most affordable homes ($323k median).

Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).

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	Wakefield	Hooksett
People
Population	5,405Lowest	15,057Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	49.4±4.1Highest 14% above NH	41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH
Kids under 18	18.7%±3.9Highest NH: 18.2%	17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Wakefield and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.8%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1%	17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Wakefield and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%	39.6%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%	8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$100,976±$11kLowest about the NH average	$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH
	Hooksett and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$322,800±$43kLowest 20% below NH	$407,000±$26kHighest about the NH average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,375±$434Lowest 8% below NH	$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH
	Hooksett and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,954Lowest 56% below NH	$6,554Highest about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2%	41.7%±16.4Highest NH: 48.2%
	Hooksett and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.2%Highest NH: 7.2%	3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.8%Highest NH: 72.8%	80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH	1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 34% above NH	27 minLowest about the NH average
Work from home	15.1%±9.3Highest NH: 16.8%	13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Wakefield and 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	#118 of 120 in NH	#30 of 120 in NH
School district	Wakefield School District	Hooksett School District
High school in town	None 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.