Compare towns
Hampstead vs Bedford vs Epping vs Plaistow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampstead has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Plaistow has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
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 | Hampstead | Bedford | Epping | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
23,746Highest |
7,430Lowest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
45±2.2 4% above NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
| Hampstead and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest 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+ | 44.9% NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,742±$576 17% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
| Bedford and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 30% above NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$6,936Lowest 4% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1989 10 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Bedford School District | Epping School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bedford High School | Epping High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
9.3Lowest |
11.4 |
| 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.