Compare towns
Appleton vs Goffstown vs Hooksett vs Penobscot
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 most affordable homes ($236k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Penobscot has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Goffstown | Hooksett | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
18,513Highest |
15,057 |
1,154Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
41.3±3.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
53.4±5.7Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Penobscot and Appleton 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% |
16%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Penobscot and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
32%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Penobscot and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$113,958±$12k 41% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$63,194±$14k 22% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$377,400±$20k 13% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$296,400±$58k 11% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,231±$161 13% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,141±$33 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$6,941Highest 123% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$1,852Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.1%±20 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±13.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Penobscot and Goffstown 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 | — | #35 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Goffstown School District | Hooksett School District | Penobscot Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Goffstown High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— | — |
| 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.