Compare towns
Mason vs Epping vs Hooksett vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k 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 | Mason | Epping | Hooksett | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,451Lowest |
7,430 |
15,057Highest |
2,227 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
45.1±3.5Highest 4% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
44.7±7.6 3% above NH |
| Epping and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±8 NH: 18.2% |
| Mason and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±1.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.5% NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3%±1.4 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 | $111,090±$3k 12% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$107,171±$14k 8% above NH |
| Hooksett and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,000±$21k 5% below NH |
$436,900±$35kHighest 9% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$338,500±$30kLowest 16% below NH |
| Epping and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
$1,742±$576 17% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,396±$622Lowest 6% below NH |
| Mason and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,049Highest 6% above NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$6,021Lowest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
53.6%±71 NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 53% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
31 min 14% above NH |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.1%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Mason 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 | — |
| School district | Mason School District | Epping School District | Hooksett School District | Merrimack Valley 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.