Compare towns

Epsom vs Hooksett vs Candia vs Epping

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 affordable homes ($338k median).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Candia has the most homeowners (91.7%).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).

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.

MeasureEpsomHooksettCandiaEpping
People
Population
4,939
15,057Highest
4,134Lowest
7,430
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.9%
NH: +4.6%
+10.6%
NH: +4.6%
+2.7%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+11.1%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
47.1±3.4
9% above NH
41.3±1.5Lowest
5% below NH
48.3±3.8Highest
12% above NH
45.1±3.5
4% above NH
Candia and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.2%±4.9
NH: 18.2%
17.4%±2.9
NH: 18.2%
12.8%±3.5Lowest
NH: 18.2%
18.7%±4.8Highest
NH: 18.2%
Epping and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.7%±3.3
NH: 20.1%
17.3%±2.4Lowest
NH: 20.1%
23.1%±4.4Highest
NH: 20.1%
22.6%±5.2
NH: 20.1%
Candia and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40.6%Highest
NH: 40.6%
39.6%
NH: 40.6%
27.7%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
37%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±2.4
NH: 6%
8.9%±1.6Highest
NH: 6%
5.7%±2.6
NH: 6%
5.1%±3.3Lowest
NH: 6%
Hooksett and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$97,941±$13kLowest
about the NH average
$117,962±$11k
19% above NH
$119,737±$37kHighest
21% above NH
$104,220±$7k
5% above NH
Candia 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
$407,000±$26k
about the NH average
$415,600±$46k
3% above NH
$436,900±$35kHighest
9% above NH
Epping and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,212±$437Lowest
19% below NH
$1,661±$206
11% above NH
$1,213±$554
19% below NH
$1,742±$576Highest
17% above NH
Epping and Hooksett 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
$6,554
about the NH average
$6,100Lowest
9% below NH
$6,936Highest
4% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
71.2%±19.7Highest
NH: 48.2%
41.7%±16.4
NH: 48.2%
0%±21.6Lowest
NH: 48.2%
67.8%±25.9
NH: 48.2%
Epsom and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.4%
NH: 7.2%
3.3%
NH: 7.2%
1.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
4.7%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.6%
NH: 72.8%
80.6%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
91.7%Highest
NH: 72.8%
86.3%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986
7 yrs newer than NH
1988
9 yrs newer than NH
1979Lowest
same as NH
1989Highest
10 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
15% above NH
27 minLowest
about the NH average
34 minHighest
29% above NH
32 min
21% above NH
Work from home
13.1%±4.3
NH: 16.8%
13.4%±3.1
NH: 16.8%
10.8%±4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
24%±6.9Highest
NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #69 of 120 in NH #30 of 120 in NH #41 of 120 in NH #77 of 120 in NH
School district Epsom School District Hooksett School District Candia School District Epping School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town Epping High School
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.