What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).

Pepperell has the highest household income ($124k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hampstead	Pepperell
People
Population	9,102Lowest	11,663Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S.	42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S.
	Hampstead and Pepperell 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%	20.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hampstead and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hampstead and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Pepperell 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±$18kLowest 39% above U.S.	$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S.
	Pepperell 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±$45kHighest 57% above U.S.	$482,100±$14kLowest 45% above U.S.
	Hampstead and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,299±$149Highest 8% below U.S.	$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S.
	Hampstead and Pepperell 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.	$6,698Lowest 115% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	45.1%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Pepperell and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 14% above U.S.	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.
Work from home	21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampstead and Pepperell 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	#153 of 282 in MA
School district	Hampstead School District	North Middlesex
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.