Compare towns
Hampstead vs Middlesex vs Calais 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%).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
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 | Middlesex | Calais | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102Highest |
1,943 |
1,713Lowest |
7,430 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Middlesex 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. |
$100,625±$27kLowest 25% above 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±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Epping and Calais 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. |
$6,483Lowest 108% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% 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% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Calais 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% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% 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. |
1976Lowest 4 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 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 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 | — | — | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Epping School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Epping High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.3 |
| 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.