Compare towns
Hooksett vs Epping vs Bedford
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 the youngest population (median age 41.3).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).
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 | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057 |
7,430Lowest |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
45.1±3.5Highest 4% above NH |
45±2.2 4% above NH |
| Epping and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest 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 | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Lowest 11% above NH |
$1,742±$576 17% above NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
| Bedford and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Lowest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1989 10 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford 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 | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Epping School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.