Compare towns
Hampstead vs Kingston vs Stratham 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
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Stratham has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Kingston | Stratham | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102Highest |
6,275Lowest |
7,754 |
7,430 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
| Kingston and Hampstead 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% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham 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% |
24.7%±6Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Kingston 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% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$105,330±$12k 6% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$492,900±$58k 22% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$436,900±$35kLowest 9% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,393±$156 7% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,742±$576 17% above NH |
| Stratham 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 |
$7,906 19% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$6,936Lowest 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Stratham 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% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
74.4%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 |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
32 min 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham 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 | #78 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Epping School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Sanborn Regional High School | None in town | Epping High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
— | 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.