Compare towns
Derry vs Epping vs Gilford vs Hampstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Gilford has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Derry | Epping | Gilford | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
7,430Lowest |
7,830 |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
48.2±3.9Highest 11% above NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
| Gilford and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Derry and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$116,635±$11kHighest 18% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
| Gilford and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$456,500±$56k 13% above NH |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
| Hampstead and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,150±$747Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
| Epping and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103 22% above NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$4,868Lowest 27% below NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±8.5 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
6.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH | #45 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Epping School District | Gilford School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Epping High School | Gilford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
9.3Lowest |
11.5 |
— |
| 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.