Compare towns
Hampstead vs Merrimack vs Newfields 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).
Merrimack has the youngest population (median age 41.5).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Merrimack | Newfields | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
28,164Highest |
2,023Lowest |
7,430 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
41.5±2.2Lowest 4% below NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
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% |
22%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Merrimack 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% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
50.2% NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Newfields 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 |
$127,219±$16k 28% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$458,600±$15k 14% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$436,900±$35kLowest 9% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,932±$147Highest 30% above NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
$1,742±$576 17% above NH |
| Merrimack and Newfields 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 |
$7,345 10% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,936Lowest 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Hampstead 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% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1989 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Newfields 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 | #58 of 120 in NH | — | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Merrimack School District | Newfields School District | Epping School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Merrimack High School | None in town | Epping High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5Highest |
— | 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.