Compare towns
Hancock vs Hooksett vs Union 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
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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 | Union | Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,518Lowest |
15,057Highest |
2,663 |
2,769 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.3±6.4 45% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3 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% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Union 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% |
21.4%±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% |
34.4% 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% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,285±$5k 10% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$56,435±$13kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $276,800±$51k 17% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$267,600±$42kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$271,700±$10k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,171±$65Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% 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 | $1,869Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$3,276 5% above 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% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest 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% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest 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. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 48% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.1%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union 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 | #117 of 133 in ME | #30 of 120 in NH | — | #99 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Hancock Public Schools | Hooksett School District | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | 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 | 6 photos → | 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.