Compare towns
Hudson vs Epping vs Francestown vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hudson has the highest household income ($124k).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Francestown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Hudson | Epping | Francestown | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,557Highest |
7,430 |
1,398Lowest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.7±1.9 6% above NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
51.2±4.5Highest 18% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| Francestown and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Francestown and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.7%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
52.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,213±$6kHighest 25% above NH |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$104,063±$16kLowest 5% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Hudson and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $438,900±$11kHighest 9% above NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$408,200±$34k about the NH average |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Hudson and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,735±$123 16% above NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,358±$256Lowest 9% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Epping and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,636 about the NH average |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$8,014Highest 20% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±77 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
42 minHighest 57% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Francestown 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 | #63 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH | — | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hudson School District | Epping School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Alvirne High School | Epping High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
9.3Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.