Compare towns
Epping vs Dedham 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%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
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 | Dedham | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,430Lowest |
25,237Highest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% 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%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Epping 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% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Dedham 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% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham 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. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Hampstead 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. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45k 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Dedham and Epping 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. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Dedham 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% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epping School District | Dedham | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Epping High School | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
10.4Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.