Compare towns
Dorset vs Epping vs Hooksett vs Waitsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 41.3).
Waitsfield has the most renters (20.1% rent).
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 | Dorset | Epping | Hooksett | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092 |
7,430 |
15,057Highest |
1,918Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.3±5.3 14% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3 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 | $111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$422,400±$92k 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,200±$821Lowest 15% 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 | $7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,208Lowest 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6 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 | 11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Epping 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 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Epping School District | Hooksett School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| 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.