Compare towns
Hampstead vs Methuen vs Epping vs Atkinson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Methuen has the most renters (27.7% rent).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Atkinson has the highest household income ($146k).
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 | Methuen | Epping | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
53,475Highest |
7,430 |
7,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Atkinson 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Methuen and Atkinson 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 39% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45k 57% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Methuen and Epping 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. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$6,918 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Atkinson 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 | #236 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Methuen | Epping School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Methuen High | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
9.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.