What stands out worked out from the figures below

West Bath has the oldest population (median age 54.2).

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	West Bath	Hooksett
People
Population	1,863Lowest	15,057Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54.2±5.6Highest 39% above U.S.	41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S.
Kids under 18	14.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	17.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Hooksett and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$103,333±$27kLowest 28% above U.S.	$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S.
	Hooksett and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$422,800±$102kHighest 27% above U.S.	$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S.
	West Bath and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,112±$327Lowest 21% below U.S.	$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,516Lowest 13% above U.S.	$6,554Highest 110% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.1%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	41.7%±16.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hooksett and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	3.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 22% below U.S.	27 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	17.1%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	West Bath 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	—	#30 of 120 in NH
School district	West Bath Public Schools	Hooksett School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.