Compare towns
Augusta vs Hooksett vs Epping vs Hallowell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Augusta has the most affordable homes ($201k median).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Hallowell has the shortest commute (14 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 | Augusta | Hooksett | Epping | Hallowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
15,057 |
7,430 |
2,592Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4 9% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
50.3±7.9Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Hallowell and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Augusta and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hallowell and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±6.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$68,398±$10k 15% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$295,300±$45k 11% below 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 | $919±$79 35% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$890±$175Lowest 37% below 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 | $2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$3,867 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 29% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±8.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Hallowell 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 | #119 of 133 in ME | #30 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Hooksett School District | Epping School District | RSU 02 |
| High school in town | Cony | None in town | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
— | 9.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.