Compare towns
Hooksett vs Epping vs Stratham vs Pembroke
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
Epping has the oldest population (median age 45.1).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Pembroke has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Hooksett | Epping | Stratham | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,876Lowest |
7,430 |
7,754Highest |
7,438 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±2 about the NH average |
45.1±3.5Highest 4% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
| Epping and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.4% NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.7Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest 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 | $101,053±$25k about the NH average |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $348,100±$32kLowest 14% below NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,811±$283 21% above NH |
$1,742±$576 17% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,960Lowest 26% below NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$7,589 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.5% NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Epping School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | — | Epping High School | None in town | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.