Compare towns
Epping vs Hampstead vs Hooksett vs Mason
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k median).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% 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 | Epping | Hampstead | Hooksett | Mason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,430 |
9,102 |
15,057Highest |
1,451Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
| Hampstead and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Mason and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
39.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest 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 | $104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$111,090±$3k 12% above NH |
| Hooksett and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$384,000±$21kLowest 5% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,742±$576 17% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
| Mason and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,936 4% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$7,049 6% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1988Lowest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1988Lowest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1988Lowest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Hampstead 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Epping School District | Hampstead School District | Hooksett School District | Mason School District |
| High school in town | Epping High School | None in town | 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.