Compare towns
Hampstead vs Meredith 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 kids (21.3% under 18).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Meredith | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102Highest |
6,758Lowest |
7,430 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
45.1±3.5Lowest 4% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18kHighest 13% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
| Hampstead and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$436,900±$35kLowest 9% above NH |
| Hampstead and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149 13% below NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
| Epping and Hampstead 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 |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Epping School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Epping High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
9.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.