Compare towns
Epping vs Plaistow vs Weare 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%).
Plaistow has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
Weare has the most homeowners (93.5%).
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 | Plaistow | Weare | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,430Lowest |
7,861 |
9,170Highest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
45.6±4Highest 5% above NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
| Weare 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%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Hampstead 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% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±3Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$118,271±$17kHighest 19% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
| Weare 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 |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$1,541±$214 3% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
| Epping and Plaistow 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 |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above NH |
29 minLowest 7% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Weare 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #84 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epping School District | Timberlane Regional School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Epping High School | Timberlane Regional High School | John Stark Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
11.4Highest |
11.4Highest |
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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.