Compare towns
Hampstead vs Stratham vs Bedford 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 renters (17.9% rent).
Stratham has the youngest population (median age 41.6).
Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).
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.
| Measure | Hampstead | Stratham | Bedford | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
7,754 |
23,746Highest |
7,430Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
45±2.2 4% above NH |
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% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Bedford 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% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
63% NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
| Bedford and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
$436,900±$35kLowest 9% above NH |
| Stratham and Bedford 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 |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$2,099±$274 41% above NH |
$1,742±$576 17% above NH |
| Stratham and Bedford 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 |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$6,936Lowest 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Stratham 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1986Lowest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1989 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Bedford School District | Epping School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bedford High School | Epping High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.5Highest |
9.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.