Compare towns
Epping vs Reading 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%).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($377k 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 | Reading | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,430 |
699Lowest |
9,102Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
| Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading 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% |
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% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% 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. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% 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. |
$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Reading 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% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Reading 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 |
| School district | Epping School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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.