Compare towns
Charlotte vs Epping vs Hooksett vs Dorset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Charlotte has the highest household income ($144k).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 41.3).
Dorset has the most kids (24% 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 | Charlotte | Epping | Hooksett | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,916 |
7,430 |
15,057Highest |
2,092Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.2±5Highest 34% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
| Charlotte and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Charlotte are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Charlotte are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $144,375±$27kHighest 79% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
| Charlotte and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $695,300±$53kHighest 109% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,738±$803 23% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Epping and Charlotte are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,221Highest 196% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.1%±28.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.8%±8.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Charlotte and Dorset 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 | #3 of 70 in VT | #77 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Epping School District | Hooksett School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| 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 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.