Compare towns
Plaistow vs Epping vs Candia 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 kids (19.8% under 18).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Candia has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
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 | Epping | Candia | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861 |
7,430 |
4,134Lowest |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
48.3±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Candia 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% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Candia and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9% NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
27.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
5.7%±2.6 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Candia 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 |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$119,737±$37kHighest 21% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Candia 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 |
$436,900±$35kHighest 9% above NH |
$415,600±$46k 3% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Epping and Candia 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 |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,213±$554Lowest 19% below 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 | $7,194Highest 8% above NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$6,100Lowest 9% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 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% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
91.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4Lowest 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #41 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Epping School District | Candia School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Epping High School | None in town | 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.