Compare towns
Appleton vs Epping vs Goffstown 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
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Goffstown has the oldest housing (typical home built 1982).
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 | Appleton | Epping | Goffstown | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
7,430 |
18,513Highest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
41.3±3.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Epping and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$113,958±$12k 41% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$377,400±$20k 13% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
| Epping and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,231±$161 13% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
| Epping and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$6,941Highest 123% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.1%±20 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #77 of 120 in NH | #35 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Epping School District | Goffstown School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | Goffstown High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— |
| 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.