Compare towns

Augusta vs Hallowell vs Hooksett

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Augusta has the most affordable homes ($201k median).
Hallowell has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).

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.

MeasureAugustaHallowellHooksett
People
Population
19,077Highest
2,592Lowest
15,057
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.5±2.4
9% above U.S.
50.3±7.9Highest
29% above U.S.
41.3±1.5Lowest
6% above U.S.
Hallowell and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.9%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.2%±5.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
Augusta and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.5%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
33.2%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.3%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
28.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.4%±6.2
U.S.: 6.4%
8.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Hooksett and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$47,979±$3kLowest
41% below U.S.
$68,398±$10k
15% below U.S.
$117,962±$11kHighest
46% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$201,000±$18kLowest
40% below U.S.
$295,300±$45k
11% below U.S.
$407,000±$26kHighest
22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$919±$79
35% below U.S.
$890±$175Lowest
37% below U.S.
$1,661±$206Highest
18% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,465Lowest
21% below U.S.
$3,867
24% above U.S.
$6,554Highest
110% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.2%±8.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.1%±17.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±16.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Augusta and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
18.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
53.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
58.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1965
15 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
29% below U.S.
14 minLowest
47% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
15.1%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
19.8%±8.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Hallowell and Augusta 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 #119 of 133 in ME — #30 of 120 in NH
School district Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy RSU 02 Hooksett School District
High school in town Cony None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
17.9
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.