Compare towns
Hampstead vs Derry 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 most expensive homes ($521k median).
Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k 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 | Hampstead | Derry | Epping | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
34,116Highest |
7,430Lowest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
40.3±1.6 7% below 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%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Derry 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% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Derry 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 |
$108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
| Hampstead and Derry 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 |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
| Epping and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$8,103 22% 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% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Plaistow 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% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
29 minLowest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Epping School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pinkerton Academy | Epping High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.9Highest |
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.