Compare towns
Epping vs Hopkinton vs Plaistow
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%).
Hopkinton has the highest household income ($137k).
Plaistow has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
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 | Hopkinton | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,430 |
6,037Lowest |
7,861Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5Highest 4% above NH |
45±2.8 4% above NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
| Epping and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.8%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Hopkinton 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% |
19.9%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37% NH: 40.6% |
58.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
7.9%±4.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hopkinton 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 |
$137,477±$21kHighest 39% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
| Hopkinton and Plaistow 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 |
$506,900±$54kHighest 26% above NH |
$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
| Hopkinton and Epping 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 |
$1,270±$129Lowest 15% below NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
| Epping and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,936Lowest 4% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
42.4%±6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Plaistow 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% |
6.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
23.8%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Hopkinton 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 | #28 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epping School District | Hopkinton School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Epping High School | Hopkinton High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
12.0Highest |
11.4 |
| 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.