Compare towns
Hampstead vs Kittery vs Epping vs Derry
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 expensive homes ($521k median).
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Derry has the youngest population (median age 40.3).
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 | Kittery | Epping | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
10,473 |
7,430Lowest |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3Highest 20% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Kittery and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kittery 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derry 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±$18kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$108,944±$7k 35% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Derry 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. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$432,000±$17kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Kittery 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. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,547±$138 9% above U.S. |
| Epping and Kittery 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. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$8,103 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Derry 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% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Kittery 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 | #17 of 133 in ME | #77 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Kittery Public Schools | Epping School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy | Epping High School | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9 |
9.3Lowest |
13.9Highest |
| 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.