Compare towns

Epping vs Andover vs Hingham vs Hampstead

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Andover has the youngest population (median age 42.9).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k 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.

MeasureEppingAndoverHinghamHampstead
People
Population
7,430Lowest
36,652Highest
24,283
9,102
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+11.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.1±3.5
16% above U.S.
42.9±1Lowest
10% above U.S.
48.4±2.4Highest
24% above U.S.
45.3±6.1
16% above U.S.
Hingham 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
U.S.: 22%
23.6%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±2.1
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
Andover and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.6%±5.2
U.S.: 17.2%
16%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.8%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
Hingham and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
75.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
76.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±3.3
U.S.: 6.4%
8.1%±0.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Andover and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$104,220±$7kLowest
29% above U.S.
$172,606±$16k
114% above U.S.
$178,390±$15kHighest
121% above U.S.
$112,348±$18k
39% above U.S.
Hingham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$436,900±$35kLowest
31% above U.S.
$855,600±$22k
157% above U.S.
$1,134,200±$47kHighest
241% above U.S.
$521,100±$45k
57% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,742±$576
23% above U.S.
$2,201±$129
56% above U.S.
$2,465±$603Highest
74% above U.S.
$1,299±$149Lowest
8% below U.S.
Hingham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,936Lowest
122% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$8,634
177% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.8%±25.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.7%±7.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
60.3%±12
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±20.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Epping and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1988
8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
22% above U.S.
29 minLowest
10% above U.S.
36 minHighest
37% above U.S.
30 min
14% above U.S.
Work from home
24%±6.9
U.S.: 15.1%
30.4%±2.1
U.S.: 15.1%
33.1%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
21%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Hingham and Andover 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 #68 of 282 in MA #14 of 282 in MA #49 of 120 in NH
School district Epping School District Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical Hingham Hampstead School District
High school in town Epping High School Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical Hingham High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.3Lowest
12.8
12.9Highest
—
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.