Compare towns
Alton vs Epping vs Hampstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alton has the oldest population (median age 53.7).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k 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 | Alton | Epping | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,994Lowest |
7,430 |
9,102Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH |
45.1±3.5Lowest 4% above NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
| Alton and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Alton and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,715±$19kHighest 15% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
| Alton and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,400±$37kLowest 7% above NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
| Epping and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
30 minLowest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Hampstead 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 | #72 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Epping School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Prospect Mountain High School | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
9.3Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.