Compare towns
Hampstead vs Plainfield vs Lee 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 expensive homes ($521k median).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
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 | Plainfield | Lee | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102Highest |
2,522Lowest |
4,576 |
7,430 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
| 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%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Lee 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% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
| Lee 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±$18k 13% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
| Lee 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±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$436,900±$35kLowest 9% above NH |
| Hampstead and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
— | $1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
| Epping and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 30% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$6,936Lowest 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 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% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
28 min about the NH average |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Plainfield School District | Oyster River Coop 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 | 10 photos → | 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.