Compare towns

Hampstead vs Middlesex vs Brattleboro vs Epping

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Brattleboro has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
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.

MeasureHampsteadMiddlesexBrattleboroEpping
People
Population
9,102
1,943Lowest
12,122Highest
7,430
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±6.1
16% above U.S.
44.4±3.9Lowest
14% above U.S.
45.6±4.5Highest
17% above U.S.
45.1±3.5
16% above U.S.
Brattleboro and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.3%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
19%±2.8
U.S.: 22%
18.7%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
21.8%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.5%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±5.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Brattleboro 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
54.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
37%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.1%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±3.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Middlesex 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±$18kHighest
39% above U.S.
$109,632±$13k
36% above U.S.
$58,241±$8kLowest
28% below U.S.
$104,220±$7k
29% above U.S.
Hampstead and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$521,100±$45kHighest
57% above U.S.
$376,300±$40k
13% above U.S.
$257,300±$18kLowest
23% below U.S.
$436,900±$35k
31% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,299±$149
8% below U.S.
$1,333±$359
6% below U.S.
$1,074±$58Lowest
24% below U.S.
$1,742±$576Highest
23% above U.S.
Epping and Middlesex 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.
$6,483
108% above U.S.
$5,700Lowest
83% above U.S.
$6,936
122% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.1%±20.2
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±9.6
U.S.: 51.1%
67.8%±25.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Epping and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
17.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
58.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1986
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
14% above U.S.
27 min
4% above U.S.
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
32 minHighest
22% above U.S.
Work from home
21%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
28.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.9%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
24%±6.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Middlesex 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 — #33 of 70 in VT #77 of 120 in NH
School district Hampstead School District Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Epping School District
High school in town None in town None in town Brattleboro Union High School Epping High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
9.0Lowest
9.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.