Compare towns
Hampstead vs Needham vs Epping vs Gilford
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 renters (17.9% rent).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Gilford has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Needham | Epping | Gilford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
32,459Highest |
7,430Lowest |
7,830 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
48.2±3.9Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Gilford and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±3.2 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% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham 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 39% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$116,635±$11k 44% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45k 57% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$456,500±$56k 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,150±$747Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Needham and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 177% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$4,868Lowest 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.2%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Gilford 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH | #45 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Needham | Epping School District | Gilford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | Epping High School | Gilford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
9.3Lowest |
11.5 |
| 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.