Compare towns
Hampstead vs Dedham vs Epping vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampstead has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Pelham has the youngest population (median age 41.5).
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 | Dedham | Epping | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
25,237Highest |
7,430Lowest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 7% 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 | 21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45k 57% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
| Dedham and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$6,936Lowest 122% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Pelham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Dedham | Epping School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | Epping High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Highest |
9.3Lowest |
10.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.