Compare towns
Hampstead vs Mason vs Pelham 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 renters (17.9% rent).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Pelham has the highest household income ($136k).
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 | Mason | Pelham | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
1,451Lowest |
14,449Highest |
7,430 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above 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% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Mason and Pelham 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% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.5% NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 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 |
$111,090±$3k 12% above NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
| Pelham and Hampstead 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 |
$384,000±$21kLowest 5% below NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
| Pelham and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
$1,425±$88 4% below NH |
$1,742±$576 17% above NH |
| Mason and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$7,049 6% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$6,936Lowest 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Mason 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% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1987Lowest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
30 minLowest 10% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest 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 | — | #48 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Mason School District | Pelham School District | Epping School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Pelham High School | Epping High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4Highest |
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.