Compare towns
Francestown vs Epping vs Hooksett vs Bennington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Francestown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
Epping has the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k 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 | Francestown | Epping | Hooksett | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,398Lowest |
7,430 |
15,057Highest |
1,588 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.2±4.5Highest 18% above NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
42.1±7.8 about the NH average |
| Francestown and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $104,063±$16k 5% above NH |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
| Hooksett and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $408,200±$34k about the NH average |
$436,900±$35kHighest 9% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
| Epping and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,358±$256 9% below NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,292±$150Lowest 13% below NH |
| Epping and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,014Highest 20% above NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$5,944Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±77 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 57% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
37 min 38% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.4%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Francestown and Epping 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 | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Epping School District | Hooksett School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— | — |
| 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.