Compare towns
Barrington vs Epping vs Hampstead vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barrington has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k median).
Strafford has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Barrington | Epping | Hampstead | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,489Highest |
7,430 |
9,102 |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
| Strafford and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| 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+ | 42.4% NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Strafford and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,323±$14k 11% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
| Strafford and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $399,100±$30kLowest about the NH average |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
$1,742±$576 17% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
| Barrington and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,121 7% above NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87% NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 13% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Lowest 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 | #65 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | Epping School District | Hampstead School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.