Compare towns
Hampstead vs Epping vs Gilford vs Weare
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).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Gilford has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Weare has the most affordable homes ($396k 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 | Epping | Gilford | Weare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
7,430Lowest |
7,830 |
9,170Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8% NH: +4.6% |
+3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
45.1±3.5Lowest 4% above NH |
48.2±3.9Highest 11% above NH |
45.6±4 5% above NH |
| Gilford and Weare 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% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Weare 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% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±3Lowest 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% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$116,635±$11k 18% above NH |
$118,271±$17kHighest 19% above NH |
| Weare and Gilford 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 |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$456,500±$56k 13% above NH |
$396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Hampstead and Gilford 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 |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,150±$747Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,541±$214 3% above NH |
| Epping and Weare 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 |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$4,868Lowest 27% below NH |
$6,272 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±8.5 NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Gilford 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
6.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.1% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Weare 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #45 of 120 in NH | #84 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Epping School District | Gilford School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | Gilford High School | John Stark Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
11.5Highest |
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.