Compare towns

Hampstead vs Ogunquit vs Meredith 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 kids (21.3% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Meredith has the most renters (24.2% rent).
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k median).

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.

MeasureHampsteadOgunquitMeredithEpping
People
Population
9,102Highest
1,379Lowest
6,758
7,430
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±6.1
16% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
55.5±3.7
43% above U.S.
45.1±3.5Lowest
16% above U.S.
Ogunquit and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.3%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
12.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
18.7%±4.8
U.S.: 22%
Hampstead and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.8%±4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
34.2%±5
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±5.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Ogunquit and Meredith 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%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
37%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,348±$18k
39% above U.S.
$114,259±$56kHighest
42% above U.S.
$87,019±$19kLowest
8% above U.S.
$104,220±$7k
29% above U.S.
Ogunquit and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$521,100±$45k
57% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$480,100±$48k
44% above U.S.
$436,900±$35kLowest
31% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,299±$149
8% below U.S.
—
$1,149±$304Lowest
19% below U.S.
$1,742±$576Highest
23% above U.S.
Epping and Hampstead 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.
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
$5,006
61% 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%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.5%±9.2
U.S.: 51.1%
67.8%±25.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Epping and Meredith 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%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
14% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
26 min
about the U.S. average
32 minHighest
22% above U.S.
Work from home
21%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.7%±4.9
U.S.: 15.1%
24%±6.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Ogunquit 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 — #62 of 120 in NH #77 of 120 in NH
School district Hampstead School District — Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District Epping School District
High school in town None in town — Inter-Lakes High School Epping High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.1Highest
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.