Compare towns
Alstead vs Epping vs Gorham vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
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 | Alstead | Epping | Gorham | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,551Lowest |
7,430 |
2,682 |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
53.9±3.6 24% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| Alstead and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Epping and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Gorham and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.3% NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
20.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
6.7%±2.8 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,526±$11k 35% below NH |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$61,275±$7kLowest 38% below NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
| Hooksett and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37k 33% below NH |
$436,900±$35kHighest 9% above NH |
$161,600±$49kLowest 60% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Epping and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$838±$83Lowest 44% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Epping and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 20% below NH |
$6,936Highest 4% above NH |
$4,334Lowest 35% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9 NH: 48.2% |
41%±20.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.3% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #77 of 120 in NH | #57 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Epping School District | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Highest |
9.0Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.