Compare towns

Hooksett vs Kennebunk vs Gray

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%).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k 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.

MeasureHooksettKennebunkGray
People
Population
15,057Highest
11,820
8,429Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.3±1.5Lowest
6% above U.S.
54.6±3.3Highest
40% above U.S.
43.4±4.5
12% above U.S.
Kids under 18
17.4%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.7%±3
U.S.: 22%
19%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Gray and Kennebunk 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%
30%±4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.3%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
51.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Hooksett and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$117,962±$11kHighest
46% above U.S.
$107,804±$8k
34% above U.S.
$95,236±$8kLowest
18% above U.S.
Hooksett and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$407,000±$26k
22% above U.S.
$487,700±$21kHighest
47% above U.S.
$363,700±$20kLowest
9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,661±$206Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,425±$290
about the U.S. average
$1,371±$89Lowest
about the U.S. average
Hooksett and Kennebunk 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.
$4,999
60% above U.S.
$3,683Lowest
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.7%±16.4
U.S.: 51.1%
37.1%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±24Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Gray 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%
7.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1983Lowest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1983Lowest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
29 minHighest
8% above U.S.
Work from home
13.4%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
32.5%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #30 of 120 in NH #9 of 133 in ME #10 of 133 in ME
School district Hooksett School District RSU 21 RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences
High school in town None in town Kennebunk High School Gray-New Gloucester High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.6Lowest
12.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.