Compare towns
Worcester vs Hooksett vs Epping vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Epping has the most kids (18.7% under 18).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Worcester | Hooksett | Epping | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
15,057Highest |
7,430 |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Epping and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% 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 | $271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% 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 | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% 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 | $4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Worcester 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 | — | #30 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Hooksett School District | Epping School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Epping High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.3 |
— |
| 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.