Compare towns

Bow vs Hampstead vs Epping vs Dunbarton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Hampstead has the most renters (17.9% rent).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Dunbarton has the most homeowners (95.1%).

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.

MeasureBowHampsteadEppingDunbarton
People
Population
8,335
9,102Highest
7,430
3,097Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.4%
NH: +4.6%
+5.6%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+11.1%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+9%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41.5±2Lowest
4% below NH
45.3±6.1
5% above NH
45.1±3.5
4% above NH
48±3.7Highest
11% above NH
Dunbarton and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
25%±3.6Highest
NH: 18.2%
21.3%±3.7
NH: 18.2%
18.7%±4.8Lowest
NH: 18.2%
19.8%±3.8
NH: 18.2%
Bow and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.6%±2.5Lowest
NH: 20.1%
21.8%±4
NH: 20.1%
22.6%±5.2Highest
NH: 20.1%
20.4%±4.3
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+
60.3%Highest
NH: 40.6%
44.9%
NH: 40.6%
37%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
39.6%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.9Highest
NH: 6%
5.1%±1.6
NH: 6%
5.1%±3.3
NH: 6%
3.8%±2Lowest
NH: 6%
Bow and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$172,857±$16kHighest
75% above NH
$112,348±$18k
13% above NH
$104,220±$7kLowest
5% above NH
$124,348±$21k
26% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$506,500±$34k
26% above NH
$521,100±$45kHighest
29% above NH
$436,900±$35kLowest
9% above NH
$484,100±$33k
20% above NH
Hampstead and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,539±$178
3% above NH
$1,299±$149
13% below NH
$1,742±$576Highest
17% above NH
$1,166±$70Lowest
22% below NH
Epping and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,584Highest
44% above NH
$8,634
30% above NH
$6,936Lowest
4% above NH
$8,233
23% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39%±13.2Lowest
NH: 48.2%
44.1%±20.2
NH: 48.2%
67.8%±25.9Highest
NH: 48.2%
54.7%±60.7
NH: 48.2%
Epping and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.7%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
3.8%
NH: 7.2%
4.7%Highest
NH: 7.2%
3%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.5%
NH: 72.8%
82.1%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
86.3%
NH: 72.8%
95.1%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Lowest
6 yrs newer than NH
1988
9 yrs newer than NH
1989
10 yrs newer than NH
1990Highest
11 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the NH average
30 min
13% above NH
32 min
21% above NH
34 minHighest
25% above NH
Work from home
22.7%±4.7
NH: 16.8%
21%±4.7
NH: 16.8%
24%±6.9Highest
NH: 16.8%
12.6%±5.4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Epping and Bow 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 #26 of 120 in NH #49 of 120 in NH #77 of 120 in NH #33 of 120 in NH
School district Bow School District Hampstead School District Epping School District Dunbarton School District
High school in town Bow High School None in town Epping High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
—
9.3Lowest
—
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.