Compare towns
Sidney vs Hooksett vs Epping vs Augusta
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sidney has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Augusta has the most affordable homes ($201k 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 | Sidney | Hooksett | Epping | Augusta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,790Lowest |
15,057 |
7,430 |
19,077Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
42.5±2.4 9% above U.S. |
| Epping and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 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 | $83,488±$10k 3% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$47,979±$3kLowest 41% below 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 | $336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$201,000±$18kLowest 40% 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 | $1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$919±$79Lowest 35% 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 | $2,474 21% below U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Augusta 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 | #15 of 133 in ME | #30 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH | #119 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | Hooksett School District | Epping School District | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Epping High School | Cony |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.3Lowest |
17.9Highest |
| 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.