Compare towns
Brookline vs Epping vs Hampstead vs Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k median).
Epping has the most homeowners (86.3%).
Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k median).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
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 | Brookline | Epping | Hampstead | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
7,430 |
9,102Highest |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Lowest 16% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Andover and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Andover and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$102,500±$38k 27% 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 | $290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232 23% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
| Epping and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$5,190 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Epping 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 | — |
| School district | — | Epping School District | Hampstead School District | — |
| High school 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 | 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.