Compare towns
Epping vs Mapleton vs Kittery 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%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 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 | Mapleton | Kittery | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,430 |
1,884Lowest |
10,473Highest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3Highest 20% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
| Kittery and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kittery 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| 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 31% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
| Epping and Kittery 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,518 45% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Kittery 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 | — | #17 of 133 in ME | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epping School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Kittery Public Schools | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Epping High School | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
— | 9.9Highest |
— |
| 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.