Compare towns
Appleton vs Hooksett vs South Hooksett 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%).
South Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 35.2).
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 | South Hooksett | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
15,057Highest |
5,902 |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% 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. |
35.2±3.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
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% |
16.3%±3.9 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% |
13.5%±2.6Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% 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%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.3%±0.8Highest 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±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$130,000±$15kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
| South Hooksett and Hooksett 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. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$433,200±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| South Hooksett and Hooksett 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. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,471±$217 4% above U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and South 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. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,801Highest 118% 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% |
36.1%±25 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest 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% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% 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. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 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 |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union 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 | Appleton Public Schools | Hooksett School District | — | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school 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.