Compare towns
Appleton vs Hooksett vs Searsmont vs Liberty
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%).
Searsmont has the most people working from home (16.3%).
Liberty has the most kids (19.4% 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 | Searsmont | Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
15,057Highest |
1,646 |
969Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
44.5±9.8 14% above U.S. |
40.5±6.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Liberty and Hooksett 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% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Liberty 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
10%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Searsmont and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$87,000±$20k 8% above U.S. |
$71,146±$15k 12% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Searsmont 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. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$284,000±$31k 15% below U.S. |
$229,600±$31kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$940±$311 33% below U.S. |
$559±$193Lowest 60% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$2,788 11% below U.S. |
$2,434Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±41.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±42.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Hooksett 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% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±10.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Searsmont and Liberty 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 | Appleton Public Schools | Hooksett School District | RSU 71 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| 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.