Compare towns
Plainfield vs Epping vs Hooksett vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Epping has the most kids (18.7% under 18).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Plainfield | Epping | Hooksett | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
7,430 |
15,057Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Epping and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Epping and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Epping and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806 54% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Worcester 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 | — | Epping School District | Hooksett School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | Epping High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— | — |
| 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.