Compare towns
Hampstead vs Hampton Falls vs Meredith vs Epping
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 kids (21.3% under 18).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Meredith has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Hampton Falls | Meredith | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102Highest |
2,328Lowest |
6,758 |
7,430 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
45.1±3.5Lowest 4% above NH |
| Meredith and Hampton Falls 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% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$436,900±$35kLowest 9% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149 13% below NH |
$1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,742±$576 17% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 30% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
32 min 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Meredith 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 | — | #62 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Hampton Falls School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Epping School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Epping High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1Highest |
9.3Lowest |
| 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.