Compare towns
Sutton vs Epping vs Hooksett vs Sturbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Sturbridge has the most kids (20.7% 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 | Sutton | Epping | Hooksett | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
7,430Lowest |
15,057Highest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 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 | $147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% 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 | $6,763 117% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,520Lowest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Epping School District | Hooksett School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Epping High School | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
9.3 |
— | 7.7Lowest |
| 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.