Compare towns
Hampstead vs Gorham vs Epping vs Plaistow
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 expensive homes ($521k median).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
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 | Gorham | Epping | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
18,300Highest |
7,430Lowest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7 3% 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%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Gorham 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% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
| Epping and Gorham 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. |
$4,825Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$7,194 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4Lowest 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 | #24 of 133 in ME | #77 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Gorham Public Schools | Epping School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | Epping High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
9.3Lowest |
11.4 |
| 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.