Compare towns
Hampstead vs Lyme 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
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Lyme | Epping | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
1,710Lowest |
7,430 |
14,449Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
| Lyme 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% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest 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% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme 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% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest 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 |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham and Lyme 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 |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$436,900±$35kLowest 9% above NH |
$552,600±$27k 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,425±$88 4% below NH |
| Epping and Pelham 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 |
$6,936Lowest 4% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 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% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme 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 | — | #77 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Lyme 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.