Compare towns
Epping vs Hooksett vs Keene 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 highest household income ($118k).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Epsom has the oldest population (median age 47.1).
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 | Keene | Epsom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,430 |
15,057 |
22,939Highest |
4,939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
47.1±3.4Highest 9% above NH |
| Epsom and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest 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%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Epsom 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% |
44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.2%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$97,941±$13k about the NH average |
| Hooksett and Epping 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 |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$338,400±$19k 16% 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 |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,212±$437Lowest 19% 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 |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$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% |
44.5%±6.1 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% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%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 |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Keene 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #69 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epping School District | Hooksett School District | Keene School District | Epsom School District |
| High school in town | Epping High School | None in town | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
— | 12.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.