Compare towns
Hampstead vs Epsom vs Strafford
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 people working from home (21%).
Epsom has the most affordable homes ($338k median).
Strafford has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Epsom | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102Highest |
4,939 |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.9% NH: +4.6% |
+6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Lowest 5% above NH |
47.1±3.4Highest 9% above NH |
46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
| Epsom and Strafford 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% |
18.2%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead and Epsom 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% |
40.6% NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.2%±2.4 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Strafford and Epsom 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 13% above NH |
$97,941±$13kLowest about the NH average |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
| Strafford and Hampstead 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 |
$338,400±$19kLowest 16% below NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149 13% below NH |
$1,212±$437Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
| Strafford and Hampstead 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 |
$6,210 7% below NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
71.2%±19.7 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Epsom 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% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 13% above NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampstead and Strafford 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 | #69 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Epsom School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.