Compare towns
Epsom vs Hooksett vs Townsend vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Epsom has the most affordable homes ($338k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
Strafford has the most people working from home (15.9%).
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 | Townsend | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,939 |
15,057Highest |
9,100 |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±3.4Highest 21% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1 19% above U.S. |
| 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%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epsom and Strafford 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$13kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $338,400±$19kLowest about the U.S. average |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29k 29% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,212±$437Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,635±$246 16% above U.S. |
| 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 99% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$6,086 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 71.2%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
36 min 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford and Hooksett 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epsom School District | Hooksett School District | North Middlesex | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
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| 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.