Compare towns
Fryeburg vs Hooksett vs Waldoboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fryeburg has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Waldoboro has the most renters (21.4% rent).
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 | Fryeburg | Hooksett | Waldoboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,489Lowest |
15,057Highest |
5,253 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.3±3.4Highest 37% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
50.1±4.6 29% above U.S. |
| Fryeburg and Waldoboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Hooksett and Waldoboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fryeburg and Waldoboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,076±$15kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$69,107±$8k 14% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,600±$30kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$274,900±$39k 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $893±$85 37% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$348±$153Lowest 75% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,928 6% below U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$2,861Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±14.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fryeburg and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hooksett and Fryeburg 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 | #103 of 133 in ME | #30 of 120 in NH | #55 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 72/MSAD 72 | Hooksett School District | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Medomak Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.5 |
| 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.