Compare towns
Hampstead vs Hanover vs Atkinson 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).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Atkinson | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102Highest |
8,479 |
7,267Lowest |
7,430 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Epping 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% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Atkinson and Epping 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% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.7% NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
$146,380±$32k 48% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
| Hanover and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$555,200±$65k 38% above NH |
$436,900±$35kLowest 9% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149 13% below NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,742±$576 17% above NH |
| Hanover 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 |
$6,918Lowest 4% above NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Epping 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% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | — | Timberlane Regional School District | Epping School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Epping High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.3 |
| 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.