Compare towns
Hooksett vs Epping vs Acton vs Barrington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Acton has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
Barrington has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Acton | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
7,430 |
2,721Lowest |
9,489 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
38.7±2.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barrington and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
$110,323±$14k 37% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$334,300±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
$399,100±$30k 20% above U.S. |
| Epping and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
— | $1,867±$194Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Barrington and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$7,121Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.1%±25.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Barrington 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 133 in ME | #65 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Epping School District | Acton Public Schools | Barrington 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 |
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.