Compare towns
Epping vs Hooksett vs Barnstead
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%).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Barnstead has the most kids (21% 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 | Hooksett | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,430 |
15,057Highest |
4,994Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5Highest 4% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
| Epping and Barnstead 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% |
21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead 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% |
20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Barnstead 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±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
| Hooksett and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,900±$35kHighest 9% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
| Epping and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
| Epping and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,936Highest 4% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Barnstead 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% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #77 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epping School District | Hooksett School District | Barnstead School District |
| High school in town | Epping High School | 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 |
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.