Compare towns
Ashby vs Epping vs Hampstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashby has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Ashby | Epping | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
7,430 |
9,102Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
| Epping and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #200 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Middlesex | Epping School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.