Compare towns
Hope vs South Hooksett vs Appleton vs Union
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 shortest commute (20 min average).
South Hooksett has the highest household income ($130k).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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 | South Hooksett | Appleton | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,748 |
5,902Highest |
1,360Lowest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±3.1 15% above U.S. |
35.2±3.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Hope 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% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Union 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% |
13.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,766±$6k 7% above U.S. |
$130,000±$15kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $373,400±$33k 12% above U.S. |
$433,200±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| South 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. |
$1,471±$217Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
| South Hooksett and Hope 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. |
$6,801Highest 118% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±25 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Hope 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% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hope and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Hope Public Schools | — | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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 | 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.