Compare towns
Union vs South Hooksett 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).
South Hooksett has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
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 | South Hooksett | Appleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,663 |
5,902Highest |
1,360Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
35.2±3.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Appleton 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% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.5%±2.6Lowest 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% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.3%±0.8Highest 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 |
$130,000±$15kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$433,200±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$1,471±$217Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| South Hooksett 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. |
$6,801Highest 118% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±25 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and South 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% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 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 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | — | Appleton Public Schools |
| High school 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.