Compare towns
Appleton vs Hooksett vs Manchester vs Union
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).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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 | Hooksett | Manchester | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
15,057 |
115,643Highest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
38±1Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Union 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% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18%±1 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Union 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% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$81,007±$2k about the U.S. average |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$365,600±$7k 10% above U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,564±$37 11% above U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Manchester 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. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$5,922 90% above U.S. |
$3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±3.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Manchester 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
48.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union and Manchester 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 | #115 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Hooksett School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Manchester Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.