Compare towns
Union vs Hooksett vs Hope vs Appleton
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 highest household income ($118k).
Hope has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k 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 | Hope | Appleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663 |
15,057Highest |
1,748 |
1,360Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1 15% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% 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 | 24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest 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+ | 21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%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% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$86,766±$6k 7% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$373,400±$33k 12% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,219±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$3,842 23% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above 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% |
37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #30 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Hooksett School District | Hope Public Schools | Appleton 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.