Compare towns
Hampstead vs New Castle vs Epping vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k median).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 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 | New Castle | Epping | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
827Lowest |
7,430 |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+3.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
62.8±6Highest 45% above NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±7.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% NH: 40.6% |
68.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
0.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$176,953±$29kHighest 79% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$1,701,300±$267kHighest 323% above NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$3,501Highest 135% above NH |
$1,742±$576 17% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$8,509 28% above NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
0%±85.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
93%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
40.1%±19.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| New Castle 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 | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | New Castle School District | Epping School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.