Compare towns
Epsom vs Hooksett vs Warner vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Epsom has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
Warner has the most people working from home (16.6%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($428k median).
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 | Epsom | Hooksett | Warner | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,939 |
5,876Highest |
2,959Lowest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% NH: +4.6% |
+27.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.1±3.4Highest 9% above NH |
42.6±2Lowest about the NH average |
43.7±4 about the NH average |
46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
| Epsom and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Epsom and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±3.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±3.5 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.6% NH: 40.6% |
41.4% NH: 40.6% |
42.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±3.7Highest NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.6 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,941±$13k about the NH average |
$101,053±$25k about the NH average |
$94,022±$18kLowest 5% below NH |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
| Strafford and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $338,400±$19kLowest 16% below NH |
$348,100±$32k 14% below NH |
$353,100±$22k 12% below NH |
$427,900±$29kHighest 6% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,212±$437Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,811±$283Highest 21% above NH |
$1,219±$123 18% below NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
| Hooksett and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,210 7% below NH |
$4,960Lowest 26% below NH |
$7,650Highest 15% above NH |
$6,086 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 71.2%±19.7 NH: 48.2% |
46%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.7%±21.3 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
8.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% NH: 72.8% |
72.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 15% above NH |
29 minLowest 9% above NH |
32 min 19% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.4%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
16.6%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Warner and Strafford 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 | #69 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | — | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epsom School District | — | Kearsarge Regional School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.