Compare towns
Hancock vs Hooksett vs Mapleton vs Thomaston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has the most homeowners (81.1%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Thomaston has the shortest commute (14 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 | Hancock | Hooksett | Mapleton | Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,518 |
15,057Highest |
1,884Lowest |
2,769 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.3±6.4 45% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
58.1±6.6Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Thomaston and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.5%±8.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thomaston and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.4Lowest 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 | $72,285±$5k 10% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$56,435±$13kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $276,800±$51k 17% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$271,700±$10k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,171±$65 17% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,262±$343 11% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,869 40% below U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,487 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±15.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.5%±23.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thomaston and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 48% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.1%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hooksett and Mapleton 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 | #117 of 133 in ME | #30 of 120 in NH | — | #99 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Hancock Public Schools | Hooksett School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 13 |
| 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.