Compare towns
Epping vs Hooksett vs Plainfield vs Weare
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 the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 41.3).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Weare has the most kids (22.4% 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 | Plainfield | Weare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,430 |
15,057Highest |
1,314Lowest |
9,170 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
45.6±4 17% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Weare 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Plainfield 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% |
48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.2% 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% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.4 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. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$118,271±$17kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Weare 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±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$396,300±$26k 19% above U.S. |
| 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 23% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,153±$103Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,541±$214 9% above U.S. |
| 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 122% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$4,806Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$6,272 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.2%±24.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Epping 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Weare 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 | — | #84 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epping School District | Hooksett School District | — | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District |
| High school in town | Epping High School | None in town | — | John Stark Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
— | — | 11.4Highest |
| 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.