Compare towns
Union vs Hooksett vs Appleton vs Washington
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).
Hooksett has the most expensive homes ($407k median).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($195k median).
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 | Hooksett | Appleton | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663 |
15,057Highest |
1,360Lowest |
1,624 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
48.2±6.7 24% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Washington 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% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±4.3 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+ | 34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
17.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$59,861±$17k 26% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$195,200±$36kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,036±$322Lowest 27% 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 | $3,276 5% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$2,286Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±62.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Washington 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union and Washington 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 40/MSAD 40 | Hooksett School District | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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.