Compare towns
Brookfield vs Epping vs Hampstead vs Wolfeboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the most homeowners (98.4%).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Brookfield | Epping | Hampstead | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 567Lowest |
7,430 |
9,102Highest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.1±9.7Highest 34% above NH |
45.1±3.5Lowest 4% above NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
57±1.8 32% above NH |
| Brookfield and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 8.6%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 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+ | 38.4%±3.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Brookfield and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±5Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Brookfield and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,406±$31kLowest 18% below NH |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$112,348±$18kHighest 13% above NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
| Hampstead and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $428,000±$61kLowest 6% above NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% 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 | $5,926 11% below NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest 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 | 3.9% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.7%±6.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Wolfeboro 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 | — | #77 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Epping School District | Hampstead School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | Epping High School | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
| 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.