Compare towns
Hampstead vs Cornish vs Exeter vs Epping
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 most expensive homes ($521k median).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
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 | Cornish | Exeter | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
1,816Lowest |
16,151Highest |
7,430 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
45.1±3.5Lowest 4% above NH |
| Cornish and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Cornish and Exeter 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% |
40.6% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18kHighest 13% above NH |
$91,821±$2kLowest 7% below NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
| Hampstead and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
| Hampstead and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149 13% below NH |
$1,221±$227Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,742±$576 17% above NH |
| Exeter 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 |
$5,796Lowest 13% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
94.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Cornish School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Epping School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Epping High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1Highest |
9.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.