Compare towns
Epping vs Hooksett vs Newton vs Hampstead
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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Newton has the highest household income ($138k).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% 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 | Newton | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,430 |
15,057Highest |
4,836Lowest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
47.8±5.7Highest 10% above NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
| Newton and Hampstead 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%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Epping 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%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
16%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Hampstead 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% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 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±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$138,487±$29kHighest 40% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
| Newton 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±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$459,500±$18k 14% above NH |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
| Hampstead and Newton 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 |
$1,683±$96 13% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
| Epping and Newton 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 |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,124 22% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62%±41.8 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Newton 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% |
7.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
30 min 13% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Hampstead 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 | #70 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epping School District | Hooksett School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Hampstead 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 Our Story | 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.