Compare towns
Epping vs Hampstead vs Stoneham
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%).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Stoneham has the most expensive homes ($672k 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 | Hampstead | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,430Lowest |
9,102 |
23,355Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% 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%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Stoneham 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% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Stoneham 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. |
$521,100±$45k 57% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Stoneham and Epping 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. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$6,523Lowest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Hampstead 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stoneham 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 | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Epping School District | Hampstead School District | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Epping High School | None in town | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
— | 10.7Highest |
| 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.