Compare towns
Epping vs Hooksett vs Amherst
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Hooksett | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,430Lowest |
15,057Highest |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
| Amherst 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% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst and Epping 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% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Amherst 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% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest 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 |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
| Epping and Hooksett 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 |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Hooksett 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% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst 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 | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epping School District | Hooksett School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Epping High School | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
— | 10.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.