Compare towns
Hampstead vs Kensington vs Epping vs Pelham
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 renters (17.9% rent).
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Pelham has the youngest population (median age 41.5).
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 | Kensington | Epping | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
2,009Lowest |
7,430 |
14,449Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
| 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%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham and Hampstead 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% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
48.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Pelham and Hampstead 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 |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
| Kensington and Pelham 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 |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$436,900±$35kLowest 9% above NH |
$552,600±$27k 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
$1,742±$576 17% above NH |
$1,425±$88 4% below NH |
| Kensington 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 |
$9,637Highest 45% above NH |
$6,936Lowest 4% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Pelham 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% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1987Lowest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1987Lowest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
29 minLowest 7% above NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Pelham 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 | — | #77 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Kensington School District | Epping School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Epping High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.3Lowest |
10.4Highest |
| 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.