Compare towns
Hope vs Hooksett vs Appleton vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hope has the most people working from home (18.3%).
Hooksett has the most expensive homes ($407k median).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Dedham has the most homeowners (95.5%).
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 | Hope | Hooksett | Appleton | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,748 |
15,057Highest |
1,360Lowest |
1,656 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±3.1 15% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
46.5±2.2 20% 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 | 23.3%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,766±$6k 7% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$111,442±$18k 38% above 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 | $373,400±$33k 12% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$356,400±$33k 7% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,219±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,422±$607 about the U.S. average |
| Hooksett and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,842 23% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,942 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
13%±85.3Lowest 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 | 5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hope 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 | — | #30 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Hope Public Schools | Hooksett School District | Appleton Public Schools | Dedham Public Schools |
| 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.