Compare towns
Hampstead vs Epping vs Hooksett vs Plaistow
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 expensive homes ($521k median).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Plaistow has the most renters (21.9% rent).
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 | Epping | Hooksett | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
7,430Lowest |
15,057Highest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below 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% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Plaistow 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% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
| Hooksett and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
| Epping and Plaistow 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 |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$7,194 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Plaistow 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% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 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 | 30 min 13% above NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Hampstead 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Epping School District | Hooksett School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
| 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.