Compare towns
Kensington vs Epping vs Hooksett vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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 | Kensington | Epping | Hooksett | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
7,430 |
15,057Highest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
45.1±3.5Highest 4% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Epping and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
$1,742±$576 17% above NH |
$1,661±$206Lowest 11% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
| Kensington and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,637Highest 45% above NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Kensington 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 | — | #77 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kensington School District | Epping School District | Hooksett School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— | — |
| 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.