Compare towns
Appleton vs Hooksett vs Sullivan vs Strong
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 the highest household income ($118k).
Sullivan has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Strong has the most people working from home (18.5%).
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 | Sullivan | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
15,057Highest |
1,246Lowest |
1,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
47.1±15 21% above U.S. |
47.5±8.9 22% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Strong 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%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strong and Sullivan 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% |
22.5%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Sullivan 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% |
26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5% 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% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19k 34% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$59,643±$14k 26% below U.S. |
$47,557±$10kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$222,000±$33k 33% below U.S. |
$183,900±$29kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$883±$114Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$920±$276 35% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$2,228 29% below U.S. |
$1,950Lowest 37% 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% |
34.9%±23.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest 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% |
13.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±9.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strong 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 24 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Sumner Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.5 |
— |
| 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.