Compare towns

Hampstead vs Gray vs Hooksett vs Epping

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k median).
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k median).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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.

MeasureHampsteadGrayHooksettEpping
People
Population
9,102
8,429
15,057Highest
7,430Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±6.1Highest
16% above U.S.
43.4±4.5
12% above U.S.
41.3±1.5Lowest
6% above U.S.
45.1±3.5
16% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
19%±4
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.7%±4.8
U.S.: 22%
Hampstead and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.8%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
19.3%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
17.3%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
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
U.S.: 35.7%
44.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
37%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
8.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Hooksett and Gray 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
39% above U.S.
$95,236±$8kLowest
18% above U.S.
$117,962±$11kHighest
46% above U.S.
$104,220±$7k
29% above U.S.
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
57% above U.S.
$363,700±$20kLowest
9% above U.S.
$407,000±$26k
22% above U.S.
$436,900±$35k
31% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,299±$149Lowest
8% below U.S.
$1,371±$89
about the U.S. average
$1,661±$206
18% above U.S.
$1,742±$576Highest
23% above U.S.
Epping and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,634Highest
177% above U.S.
$3,683Lowest
18% above U.S.
$6,554
110% above U.S.
$6,936
122% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.1%±20.2
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±24
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±16.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
67.8%±25.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Epping and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1983Lowest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1988
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
14% above U.S.
29 min
8% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
32 minHighest
22% above U.S.
Work from home
21%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
24%±6.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #10 of 133 in ME #30 of 120 in NH #77 of 120 in NH
School district Hampstead School District RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences Hooksett School District Epping School District
High school in town None in town Gray-New Gloucester High School None in town Epping High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.5Highest
—
9.3Lowest
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.