Compare towns
Sheldon vs Epping vs Hooksett vs Fairfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Fairfield has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
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 | Sheldon | Epping | Hooksett | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
7,430 |
15,057Highest |
1,938Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
42.3±2.7 9% above U.S. |
| Epping and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Fairfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$87,019±$22k 8% above 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 | $272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$320,600±$22k 4% 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 | $1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,056±$441Lowest 25% 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 | $3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$4,816 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Lowest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Lowest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #77 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Epping School District | Hooksett School District | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | None 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.