Compare towns
Hampstead vs Needham vs Hooksett 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 oldest population (median age 45.3).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Epping has the most homeowners (86.3%).
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 | Hooksett | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
32,459Highest |
15,057 |
7,430Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest 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% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45k 57% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above 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. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Needham 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Needham | Hooksett School District | Epping School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | None in town | Epping High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
— | 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.