Compare towns
Strafford vs Hooksett vs Epping vs Gilmanton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the highest household income ($122k).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Gilmanton has the most affordable homes ($364k 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 | Strafford | Hooksett | Epping | Gilmanton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,306 |
15,057Highest |
7,430 |
4,026Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
45±4.4 4% above NH |
| Strafford and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.5%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Epping and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$117,088±$9k 18% above NH |
| Strafford and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$436,900±$35kHighest 9% above NH |
$363,700±$42kLowest 10% below NH |
| Epping and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,125±$421Lowest 25% below NH |
| Epping and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$6,936Highest 4% above NH |
$6,235 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9 NH: 48.2% |
57.1%±100 NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
99.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
32 min 21% above NH |
33 min 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.3%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Strafford 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH | #25 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Hooksett School District | Epping School District | Gilmanton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.3 |
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| 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.