Compare towns
Epping vs Hooksett vs Lyme 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 41.3).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
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 | Lyme | Epsom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,430 |
15,057Highest |
1,710Lowest |
4,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
47.1±3.4 9% above NH |
| Lyme and Epsom 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% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Epping 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% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme 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% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5.2%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Epsom 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±$11k 19% above NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$97,941±$13kLowest about the NH average |
| Lyme 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 9% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$338,400±$19kLowest 16% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,418±$130 5% 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 | $6,936 4% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% 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% |
52.8%±29.8 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% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%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 |
1977Lowest 2 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 |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme 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 | — | #69 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epping School District | Hooksett School District | Lyme School District | Epsom School District |
| High school in town | Epping High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3 |
— | — | — |
| 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.