Compare towns
Dunstable vs Epping vs Hooksett vs Paxton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
Epping has the oldest population (median age 45.1).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Paxton has the most people working from home (25.5%).
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 | Dunstable | Epping | Hooksett | Paxton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
7,430 |
15,057Highest |
5,002 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4 7% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.8±3.3 7% above U.S. |
| Epping and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dunstable and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.9%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$134,083±$8k 66% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $674,000±$30kHighest 103% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$472,300±$29k 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,386±$88 about the U.S. average |
| Epping and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,020Highest 189% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$7,129 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.2%±15.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Paxton 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 | #4 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #219 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Epping School District | Hooksett School District | Wachusett |
| 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.