Compare towns
Brewer vs Hooksett vs Epping vs Old Town
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brewer has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Old Town has the most affordable homes ($208k median).
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 | Brewer | Hooksett | Epping | Old Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,652 |
15,057Highest |
7,430Lowest |
7,470 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±4.8 3% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
37±1.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Epping and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Old Town and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.2%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Old Town and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,613±$9k 17% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$51,585±$10kLowest 36% 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 | $245,300±$21k 26% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$208,100±$26kLowest 37% 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 | $1,086±$54 23% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$989±$100Lowest 30% 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 | $3,374 8% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$3,153Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±15 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
21.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±11.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Old Town 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 | #32 of 133 in ME | #30 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH | #56 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Brewer Public Schools | Hooksett School District | Epping School District | RSU 34 |
| High school in town | Brewer High School | None in town | Epping High School | Old Town High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
— | 9.3Lowest |
12.8 |
| 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.