Compare towns
Hampstead vs Reading vs Epping vs Atkinson
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 renters (17.9% rent).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
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 | Reading | Epping | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
25,612Highest |
7,430 |
7,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Hampstead 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% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Atkinson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Atkinson 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 39% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$146,380±$32k 81% above U.S. |
| Reading and Atkinson 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. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65k 67% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Reading and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 177% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$6,918Lowest 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Atkinson 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Reading | Epping School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Reading Memorial High | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
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.