Compare towns
Epping vs Northfield 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%).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
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 | Northfield | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,430 |
2,872Lowest |
9,102Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
48.9±4.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
| Northfield 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% |
14.8%±4.1Lowest 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%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Northfield 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$103,375±$10kLowest 28% 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. |
$375,800±$31kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,142±$200Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
| Epping and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,936 122% above U.S. |
$4,594Lowest 47% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Northfield 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% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.3Lowest 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 | #231 of 282 in MA | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epping School District | Pioneer Valley | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Epping High School | Pioneer Valley Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
10.7Highest |
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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.