Compare towns
Acton vs Andover vs Epping vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Andover has the highest household income ($173k).
Epping has the most homeowners (86.3%).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 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 | Acton | Andover | Epping | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155 |
36,652Highest |
7,430Lowest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Epping and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Andover and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
| Andover and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Andover and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Andover 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 | #13 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Epping School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.8 |
9.3Lowest |
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| 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.