Compare towns
Alstead vs Epping vs Hooksett vs Walpole
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%).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Walpole has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Hooksett | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,551Lowest |
7,430 |
15,057Highest |
3,690 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
-2.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
46.5±10.4 7% above NH |
| Alstead and Walpole 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%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
22.2%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Walpole and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±5.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Alstead and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4%±2.8 NH: 6% |
| 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 | $64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$82,617±$16k 17% below 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±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
$436,900±$35kHighest 9% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$319,800±$48k 21% below NH |
| 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 |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,165±$150Lowest 22% below NH |
| Epping and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322Lowest 20% below NH |
$6,936Highest 4% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$6,078 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±21.9 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% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
69.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #77 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Epping School District | Hooksett School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.