Compare towns
Epping vs Hooksett vs Exeter vs Epsom
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 youngest population (median age 41.3).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Epsom has the most affordable homes ($338k median).
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 | Exeter | Epsom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,430 |
15,057 |
16,151Highest |
4,939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
47.1±3.4Highest 9% above NH |
| Epsom and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Epping and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Epping 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% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
5.2%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$97,941±$13kLowest about the NH average |
| Hooksett and Exeter 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 |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$338,400±$19kLowest 16% below NH |
| Exeter and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,742±$576 17% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,212±$437Lowest 19% below NH |
| Exeter 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 |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,210Lowest 7% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
71.2%±19.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Epsom 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% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #69 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epping School District | Hooksett School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Epsom School District |
| High school in town | Epping High School | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.