Compare towns
Plainville vs Epping vs Hooksett vs Wrentham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Wrentham has the most expensive homes ($655k 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 | Plainville | Epping | Hooksett | Wrentham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,943 |
7,430Lowest |
15,057Highest |
12,297 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.6 11% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
46.8±3.2Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Wrentham and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wrentham and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $104,106±$13kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$151,676±$17kHighest 88% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,000±$35k 43% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$654,900±$26kHighest 97% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,184±$628Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Plainville and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,329Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$7,373Highest 136% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±15.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Wrentham 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 | #102 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #49 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Plainville | Epping School District | Hooksett School District | King Philip · Wrentham |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town | King Philip Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
— | 13.5Highest |
| 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.