Compare towns
Union vs Hampton vs Appleton vs Bowdoin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($550k median).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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 | Union | Hampton | Appleton | Bowdoin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663 |
16,426Highest |
1,360Lowest |
3,188 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
44.3±10 14% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$95,233±$9kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$91,239±$13k 13% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$292,800±$71k 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— |
| Hampton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,375 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±42.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton and Union 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 | — | #31 of 120 in NH | — | #28 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1 |
— | — |
| 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.