Compare towns
Epping vs Francestown vs Hampstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Francestown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
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 | Francestown | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,430 |
1,398Lowest |
9,102Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5Lowest 4% above NH |
51.2±4.5Highest 18% above NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
| Francestown 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 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.7%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$104,063±$16kLowest 5% above NH |
$112,348±$18kHighest 13% above NH |
| 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 9% above NH |
$408,200±$34kLowest about the NH average |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,358±$256 9% below NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
| Epping and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,936Lowest 4% above NH |
$8,014 20% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±77 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Francestown 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% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above NH |
42 minHighest 57% above NH |
30 minLowest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Francestown 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 | — | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epping School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Epping High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.