Compare towns
Epping vs Hooksett vs Kittery vs Rye
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 41.3).
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | Kittery | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,430 |
15,057Highest |
10,473 |
5,611Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Epping and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Rye and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Rye and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,936 122% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye 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 | #17 of 133 in ME | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epping School District | Hooksett School District | Kittery Public Schools | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Epping High School | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
— | 9.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.