Compare towns
Springfield vs Hooksett vs Epping vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
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 | Springfield | Hooksett | Epping | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,084 |
15,057Highest |
7,430 |
2,992Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Chester and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Epping and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 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 | $66,571±$13k 18% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% 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 | $192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% 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 | $963±$100 32% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% 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 | $4,807 54% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Springfield 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 | #64 of 70 in VT | #30 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Hooksett School District | Epping School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | None in town | Epping High School | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | 9.3 |
8.7Lowest |
| 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.