Compare towns
Hooksett vs Epping vs Lancaster vs Manchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% 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 | Hooksett | Epping | Lancaster | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
7,430Lowest |
8,606 |
115,643Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
38±1Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Epping and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±1 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster 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%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Lancaster 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% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest 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%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$81,007±$2kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Lancaster and Hooksett 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±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$365,600±$7kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,564±$37Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Lancaster 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. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$5,922Lowest 90% 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% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±3.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
48.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #115 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Epping School District | Nashoba | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town | Manchester Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
— | 14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.