Compare towns
Epping vs Danvers vs Canton 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).
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Danvers | Canton | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,430Lowest |
28,098Highest |
24,748 |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Canton 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% |
22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
| Canton and Danvers 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. |
$644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45k 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$2,076±$192 47% above U.S. |
$2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Canton and Danvers 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. |
$6,654 113% above U.S. |
$6,560Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Canton 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canton 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 | #91 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epping School District | — | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Epping High School | — | Canton High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
— |
| 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.