Compare towns
Derry vs Epping vs Hampstead vs Hampton Beach
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 youngest population (median age 40.3).
Epping has the most homeowners (86.3%).
Hampstead has the highest household income ($112k).
Hampton Beach has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
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 | Hampstead | Hampton Beach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
7,430 |
9,102 |
2,605Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest 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%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest 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±$7k 5% above NH |
$112,348±$18kHighest 13% above NH |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
| Hampstead and Derry 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 |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$508,900±$76k 26% above NH |
| Hampstead and Hampton Beach 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 |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,375±$130 8% 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 |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$6,115Lowest 8% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Hampton Beach 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% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Beach 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Epping School District | Hampstead School District | — |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Epping High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
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.