Compare towns
Mapleton vs Union vs Hooksett vs East Machias
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Union has the most people working from home (15.9%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
East Machias has the shortest commute (18 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 | Mapleton | Union | Hooksett | East Machias |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
2,663 |
15,057Highest |
1,223Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.8±2.9Highest 10% above U.S. |
| East Machias and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Union and East Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and East Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$57,589±$10kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$210,800±$23k 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$907±$566 36% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$1,836 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±40.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| East Machias and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.1%±3.1Lowest 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 | — | — | #30 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Hooksett School District | East Machias 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.