Compare towns
Epping vs Gilford vs Laconia 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%).
Gilford has the most homeowners (93.1%).
Laconia has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Gilford | Laconia | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,430Lowest |
7,830 |
17,085Highest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5Lowest 4% above NH |
48.2±3.9Highest 11% above NH |
45.3±3.9 5% above NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
| Gilford and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Gilford 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% |
21.8%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.8%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Laconia and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37% NH: 40.6% |
45.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$116,635±$11kHighest 18% above NH |
$73,218±$12kLowest 26% below NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
| Gilford 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±$35k 9% above NH |
$456,500±$56k 13% above NH |
$340,300±$16kLowest 15% below NH |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
| Hampstead and Gilford 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 |
$1,150±$747Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,224±$107 18% below NH |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
| 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 4% above NH |
$4,868 27% below NH |
$4,484Lowest 33% below NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±8.5 NH: 48.2% |
54.5%±10.2 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Gilford 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% |
6.2% NH: 7.2% |
12.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #45 of 120 in NH | #105 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epping School District | Gilford School District | Laconia School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Epping High School | Gilford High School | Laconia High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
11.5Highest |
10.0 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.