Compare towns
Plaistow vs Dunbarton vs Epping 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
Plaistow has the most renters (21.9% rent).
Dunbarton has the most expensive homes ($484k median).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
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 | Plaistow | Dunbarton | Epping | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861 |
3,097Lowest |
7,430 |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Dunbarton and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest 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 | $108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$124,348±$21kHighest 26% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
$484,100±$33kHighest 20% above NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Dunbarton and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Epping and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194 8% above NH |
$8,233Highest 23% above NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1989 10 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Plaistow 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Dunbarton School District | Epping School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
— | 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.