Compare towns
Sandown vs Hooksett vs Derry vs Epping
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sandown has the highest household income ($135k).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Derry has the most renters (40.9% rent).
Epping has the oldest population (median age 45.1).
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 | Sandown | Hooksett | Derry | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,628Lowest |
15,057 |
21,339Highest |
7,430 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+3.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.7Lowest 6% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
41±3 5% below NH |
45.1±3.5Highest 4% above NH |
| Epping and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±2.8 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Sandown and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.2%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
14.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.7% NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
7.2%±2.2 NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $135,040±$25kHighest 36% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$91,673±$11kLowest 7% below NH |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
| Sandown and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $483,400±$44kHighest 20% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$391,200±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
| Sandown and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$721Highest 27% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,549±$137Lowest 4% above NH |
$1,742±$576 17% above NH |
| Sandown and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,801Highest 32% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$7,278 9% above NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.1%±48.3 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±9.5 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
59.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
29 min 10% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.2%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown and Epping 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 | #71 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Hooksett School District | — | Epping School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Epping High School |
| 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.