Compare towns
Hampstead vs Hampton Beach vs Wells 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).
Hampton Beach has the most renters (37.1% rent).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k 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 | Hampton Beach | Wells | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
2,605Lowest |
11,713Highest |
7,430 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Wells 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% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$82,557±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$88,024±$11k 9% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Epping 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. |
$508,900±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Hampton Beach 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. |
$1,375±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Epping and Hampton Beach 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. |
$6,115 96% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Epping 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 | — | #22 of 133 in ME | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Epping School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Wells High School | Epping High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4Highest |
9.3Lowest |
| 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.