Compare towns
Hooksett vs Epping vs Topsham vs Auburn
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 youngest population (median age 41.3).
Epping has the oldest population (median age 45.1).
Topsham has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
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 | Topsham | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
7,430 |
9,706 |
6,119Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9 14% above U.S. |
| Epping and Topsham 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% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Auburn 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% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3%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% |
4.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Auburn 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 46% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Auburn 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. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$8,092Highest 159% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Hooksett 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% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Auburn 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 | #66 of 133 in ME | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Epping School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | Mt Ararat High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
12.2Highest |
— |
| 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.