Compare towns
Epping vs Saugus 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%).
Saugus has the most expensive homes ($603k median).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
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 | Saugus | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,430Lowest |
28,773Highest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Epping 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% |
15.2%±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%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Saugus 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% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saugus and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$101,539±$3kLowest 26% 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±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$603,400±$13kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45k 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Saugus and Epping 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. |
$6,049Lowest 94% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Saugus 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% 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. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±2.4Lowest 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 | #194 of 282 in MA | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epping School District | Saugus | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Epping High School | Saugus High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
15.5Highest |
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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.