Compare towns
Epping vs Hooksett vs Waterville vs Epsom
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 people working from home (24%).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Epsom has the oldest population (median age 47.1).
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 | Waterville | Epsom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,430 |
15,057 |
17,077Highest |
4,939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
35.5±2.5Lowest 9% below U.S. |
47.1±3.4Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Epsom and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Epping and Epsom 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%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
18.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$53,580±$4kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$97,941±$13k 21% above U.S. |
| 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 31% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$184,600±$21kLowest 45% below U.S. |
$338,400±$19k about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$978±$72Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,212±$437 14% below 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. |
$2,755Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$6,210 99% 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% |
50.5%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
71.2%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
48.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Waterville 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 | #105 of 133 in ME | #69 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epping School District | Hooksett School District | Waterville Public Schools | Epsom School District |
| High school in town | Epping High School | None in town | Waterville Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
— |
| 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.