Compare towns
Hampstead vs Auburn vs Hooksett 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
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k 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 | Hampstead | Auburn | Hooksett | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
6,119Lowest |
15,057Highest |
7,430 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
| Hampstead and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,742±$576 17% above NH |
| Auburn and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$6,936 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Auburn School District | Hooksett 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.