Compare towns
Union vs Hooksett vs West Gardiner
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
West Gardiner has the shortest commute (24 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 | Union | Hooksett | West Gardiner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,663Lowest |
15,057Highest |
3,696 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.5±2.8Highest 12% above U.S. |
| West Gardiner and Union 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%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Union and West Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Hooksett 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% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±5.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and West Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,724±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$96,172±$30k 19% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and West Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,600±$42kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$305,100±$42k 8% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,087±$150Lowest 23% 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. |
$2,282Lowest 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% |
57.1%±9.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| West Gardiner 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% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union and West Gardiner 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 | #90 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Hooksett School District | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.