Compare towns
Epping vs Athol vs Ware 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Ware has the most renters (27.7% rent).
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 | Epping | Athol | Ware | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,430Lowest |
12,011Highest |
10,048 |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Epping 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% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Athol 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$112,348±$18kHighest 39% 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 | $436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
| Epping and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,936 122% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #256 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epping School District | Athol-Royalston | Ware | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Epping High School | Athol High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
11.6Highest |
11.1 |
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| 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.