Compare towns
Epping vs Bow vs Hampton Beach vs Epsom
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Hampton Beach has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
Epsom has the most affordable homes ($338k 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 | Bow | Hampton Beach | Epsom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,430 |
8,335Highest |
2,605Lowest |
4,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
47.1±3.4 9% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5.2%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
$97,941±$13k about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$508,900±$76kHighest 26% above NH |
$338,400±$19kLowest 16% below NH |
| Hampton Beach and Bow 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 |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,375±$130 8% below NH |
$1,212±$437Lowest 19% below NH |
| Epping and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,936 4% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$6,115Lowest 8% below NH |
$6,210 7% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
71.2%±19.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Epsom and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±4.3Lowest 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | — | #69 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epping School District | Bow School District | — | Epsom School District |
| High school in town | Epping High School | Bow High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.