Compare towns
Augusta 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
Augusta has the most affordable homes ($201k median).
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 | Augusta | Epping | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
7,430Lowest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4Lowest 9% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±2.6Lowest 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+ | 28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest 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 | $47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 35% 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 | $2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 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 | 19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7Lowest 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 | #119 of 133 in ME | #77 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Epping School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Cony | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
9.3Lowest |
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| 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.