Compare towns
Hooksett vs Dedham vs Appleton
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%).
Dedham has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
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 | Hooksett | Dedham | Appleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
1,656 |
1,360Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
46.5±2.2 20% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$111,442±$18k 38% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$356,400±$33k 7% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,422±$607 about the U.S. average |
$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$3,942 26% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
13%±85.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hooksett and Appleton 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Dedham Public Schools | Appleton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.