Compare towns
Abington vs Epping vs Hooksett vs Bellingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Abington has the most expensive homes ($540k median).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Bellingham has the youngest population (median age 38.2).
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 | Abington | Epping | Hooksett | Bellingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,053 |
7,430Lowest |
15,057 |
17,410Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.1±1.8 about the U.S. average |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
38.2±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Epping and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Abington and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,400±$12kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$125,307±$10k 55% above U.S. |
| Abington and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $539,600±$34kHighest 62% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$450,700±$13k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,724±$250 22% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$1,836±$196Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Bellingham and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,045Highest 126% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$5,030Lowest 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.8%±16.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Bellingham 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 | #143 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #232 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Abington | Epping School District | Hooksett School District | Bellingham |
| High school in town | Abington High | Epping High School | None in town | Bellingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
9.3Lowest |
— | 12.4Highest |
| 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.