Compare towns
Hampstead vs Dunbarton vs Merrimac vs Epping
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 most kids (21.3% under 18).
Dunbarton has the most homeowners (95.1%).
Merrimac has the most expensive homes ($553k median).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Dunbarton | Merrimac | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102Highest |
3,097Lowest |
6,748 |
7,430 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
48±3.7 23% above U.S. |
49.4±6.8Highest 27% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Dunbarton 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% |
20.4%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Merrimac and Epping 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
41% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
$124,348±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$123,054±$16k 52% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Merrimac 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. |
$484,100±$33k 46% above U.S. |
$553,400±$38kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
$1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,352±$325 4% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Epping and Merrimac 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. |
$8,233 164% above U.S. |
$7,399 137% above U.S. |
$6,936Lowest 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Merrimac 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% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH | #188 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Dunbarton School District | Pentucket | Epping School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Epping High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.