Compare towns
Hooksett vs Epping vs Sturbridge vs Pelham
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%).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Pelham has the most expensive homes ($553k median).
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 | Sturbridge | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
7,430Lowest |
9,960 |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Epping 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% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Sturbridge 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% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Sturbridge 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% 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% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
| Epping and Hooksett 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. |
$6,520Lowest 109% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Pelham 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer 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. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Pelham 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Epping School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
7.7Lowest |
10.4Highest |
| 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.