Compare towns
Hampstead vs North Hampton vs Plainfield vs Epping
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 renters (17.9% rent).
North Hampton has the most expensive homes ($670k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 38.9).
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 | North Hampton | Plainfield | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102Highest |
4,543 |
2,522Lowest |
7,430 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
| North Hampton 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 NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Hampstead 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% |
26%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
| North Hampton 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% NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
| North Hampton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$436,900±$35kLowest 9% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,805±$106Highest 21% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,742±$576 17% above NH |
| North Hampton and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$8,529 28% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$6,936Lowest 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest 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% |
2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
| North Hampton 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | North Hampton School District | Plainfield School District | 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 |
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.