Compare towns
Epping vs Amherst 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
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Amherst has the highest household income ($153k).
Hampstead has the shortest commute (30 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 | Epping | Amherst | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,430Lowest |
11,861Highest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5Lowest 4% above NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
| Amherst and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 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+ | 37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,900±$35kLowest 9% above NH |
$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
| Amherst 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 |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
| Epping and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,936Lowest 4% above NH |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 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 | 4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
30 minLowest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst 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 | #20 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epping School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Epping High School | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
10.4Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.