Compare towns
China vs Hooksett vs Mapleton vs West Gardiner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
China has the most homeowners (91.8%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
West Gardiner has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | China | Hooksett | Mapleton | West Gardiner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,526 |
15,057Highest |
1,884Lowest |
3,696 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±5.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
43.5±2.8Highest 12% above U.S. |
| West Gardiner and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| China and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±5.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and West Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $96,309±$12k 19% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$96,172±$30k 19% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,000±$37k 28% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$305,100±$42k 8% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,087±$150 23% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,535 19% below U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$2,282 27% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 10.6%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±9.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| West Gardiner and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| West Gardiner 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 | #27 of 133 in ME | #30 of 120 in NH | — | #90 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | Hooksett School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| 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.