Compare towns
Bowdoin vs Hooksett vs Mapleton vs Alfred
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bowdoin has the most homeowners (84.7%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Alfred has the oldest population (median age 44.9).
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 | Bowdoin | Hooksett | Mapleton | Alfred |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,188 |
15,057Highest |
1,884Lowest |
3,125 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±10 14% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
44.9±5.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Alfred and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.4%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alfred and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,239±$13k 13% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$82,321±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Hooksett and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $292,800±$71k 12% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$342,300±$38k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,035±$432 27% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,375 8% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,543 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±42.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
82.2%±29.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alfred and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hooksett and Bowdoin 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 | #28 of 133 in ME | #30 of 120 in NH | — | #74 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Hooksett School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| 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.