Compare towns
Epping vs Princeton 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%).
Princeton has the highest household income ($159k).
Hampstead has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Princeton | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,430 |
3,529Lowest |
9,102Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
46.1±7Highest 19% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
| Princeton 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Princeton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 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% |
59.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$158,750±$46kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
| Princeton 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. |
$520,500±$48k 56% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Princeton 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. |
$897±$852Lowest 37% 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. |
$6,633Lowest 113% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.8%±46.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Princeton and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.5%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Princeton 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 | #59 of 282 in MA | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epping School District | Wachusett | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Epping High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3 |
— | — |
| 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.