Compare towns

Hooksett vs Ossipee vs Epping vs Pelham

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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Ossipee has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
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.

MeasureHooksettOssipeeEppingPelham
People
Population
15,057Highest
4,521Lowest
7,430
14,449
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.6%
NH: +4.6%
+0.6%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+11.1%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+10.3%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41.3±1.5Lowest
5% below NH
50±4.6Highest
15% above NH
45.1±3.5
4% above NH
41.5±2.7
4% below NH
Ossipee 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
NH: 18.2%
19.5%±4.5
NH: 18.2%
18.7%±4.8
NH: 18.2%
22%±2.7Highest
NH: 18.2%
Pelham and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.3%±2.4
NH: 20.1%
26.3%±5.9Highest
NH: 20.1%
22.6%±5.2
NH: 20.1%
16.5%±1.8Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Ossipee 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%
NH: 40.6%
24.8%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
37%
NH: 40.6%
40%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.9%±1.6Highest
NH: 6%
2.9%±1.7Lowest
NH: 6%
5.1%±3.3
NH: 6%
5.9%±1.3
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$117,962±$11k
19% above NH
$90,521±$22kLowest
9% below NH
$104,220±$7k
5% above NH
$135,956±$19kHighest
37% above NH
Pelham 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
about the NH average
$325,500±$23kLowest
19% below NH
$436,900±$35k
9% above NH
$552,600±$27kHighest
37% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,661±$206
11% above NH
$1,601±$245
7% above NH
$1,742±$576Highest
17% above NH
$1,425±$88Lowest
4% below NH
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
about the NH average
$4,401Lowest
34% below NH
$6,936
4% above NH
$8,634Highest
30% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.7%±16.4Lowest
NH: 48.2%
72%±16.3Highest
NH: 48.2%
67.8%±25.9
NH: 48.2%
67.3%±12.5
NH: 48.2%
Ossipee 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
NH: 7.2%
8.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
4.7%
NH: 7.2%
3.7%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
82%
NH: 72.8%
86.3%
NH: 72.8%
86.7%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988
9 yrs newer than NH
1979Lowest
same as NH
1989Highest
10 yrs newer than NH
1987
8 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the NH average
33 minHighest
25% above NH
32 min
21% above NH
30 min
10% above NH
Work from home
13.4%±3.1
NH: 16.8%
5.3%±3.7Lowest
NH: 16.8%
24%±6.9Highest
NH: 16.8%
22.8%±3.3
NH: 16.8%
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 #100 of 120 in NH #77 of 120 in NH #48 of 120 in NH
School district Hooksett School District Governor Wentworth Regional School District Epping School District Pelham School District
High school in town None in town None in town Epping High School Pelham High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
9.3Lowest
10.4Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.