Compare towns
Topsham vs Hooksett vs Freeport 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
Topsham has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Freeport has the most expensive homes ($508k median).
Gray has the most homeowners (82.4%).
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 | Topsham | Hooksett | Freeport | Gray |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,706 |
15,057Highest |
8,802 |
8,429Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
48.8±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
| Freeport and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Freeport and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.3 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 | $91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$107,326±$19k 33% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$508,400±$76kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20k 9% above U.S. |
| Freeport and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,439±$123 about the U.S. average |
$1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
| Hooksett and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,259 37% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$5,042 62% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Freeport and Topsham 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 | #66 of 133 in ME | #30 of 120 in NH | #4 of 133 in ME | #10 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Hooksett School District | RSU 05 | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences |
| High school in town | Mt Ararat High School | None in town | Freeport High School | Gray-New Gloucester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
— | 12.2Lowest |
12.5Highest |
| 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.