Compare towns
Hampstead vs Pepperell vs Epping vs Derry
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 expensive homes ($521k median).
Pepperell has the highest household income ($124k).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).
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 | Pepperell | Epping | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
11,663 |
7,430Lowest |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
40.3±1.6Lowest 4% 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%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derry and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$108,944±$7k 35% 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±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$432,000±$17kLowest 30% 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±$149 8% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,547±$138 9% above U.S. |
| Epping and Derry 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. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$8,103 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Derry 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Hampstead 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | North Middlesex | Epping School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Epping High School | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.3Lowest |
13.9Highest |
| 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.