Compare towns
Appleton vs Barrington vs Hooksett vs Mapleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Barrington has the most people working from home (18.7%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k 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.
| Measure | Appleton | Barrington | Hooksett | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
9,489 |
15,057Highest |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
38.7±2.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Barrington and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$110,323±$14k 37% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$399,100±$30k 20% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,867±$194Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
| Barrington and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$7,121Highest 128% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.1%±25.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barrington 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 | — | #65 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Barrington School District | Hooksett School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.