Compare towns
Epping vs Hooksett vs Nelson
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 expensive homes ($437k median).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% 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 | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,430 |
15,057Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5Highest 4% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
| Epping and Nelson 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson 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% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson 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% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| 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 5% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$99,792±$23kLowest 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 |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% 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 |
$1,203±$243Lowest 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 |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Hooksett 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% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson 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 | — |
| School district | Epping School District | Hooksett School District | Nelson 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.