Compare towns
Sunapee vs Hooksett vs Epping vs Bethlehem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Epping has the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).
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 | Sunapee | Hooksett | Epping | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,416 |
15,057Highest |
7,430 |
2,537Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
50.6±8.5 17% above NH |
| Sunapee and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Epping and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±5.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Sunapee and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.5 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| 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 | $101,393±$20k about the NH average |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
| Hooksett and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $393,000±$51k about the NH average |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$436,900±$35kHighest 9% above NH |
$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
| Epping and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,713±$451 15% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH |
| Epping and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$6,936Highest 4% above NH |
$5,418 19% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.6%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
32 min 21% above NH |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem 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 | #14 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH | #34 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sunapee School District | Hooksett School District | Epping School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District |
| High school in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town | Epping High School | Profile Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | 9.3 |
8.9Lowest |
| 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.