Compare towns
Bennington vs Epping vs Hooksett vs Rumney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Rumney has the oldest housing (typical home built 1976).
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 | Bennington | Epping | Hooksett | Rumney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,588 |
7,430 |
15,057Highest |
1,458Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8 about the NH average |
45.1±3.5Highest 4% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
44.5±2.3 about the NH average |
| Epping and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
24.1%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Rumney and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
41.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2.3 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 | $83,875±$7k 15% below NH |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$79,444±$21kLowest 20% 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 | $267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
$436,900±$35kHighest 9% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$309,800±$37k 23% 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 | $1,292±$150 13% below NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,064±$100Lowest 29% 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 | $5,944 11% below NH |
$6,936Highest 4% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$4,716Lowest 29% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
48.1%±21.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
77.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
33 min 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.4%±7 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Bennington 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 | — | #77 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Epping School District | Hooksett School District | Rumney 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.