Compare towns
Hampstead vs Townsend 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 kids (21.3% under 18).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Townsend | Epping | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102Highest |
9,100 |
7,430 |
7,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%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. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest 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. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Townsend 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. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Hampstead 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. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Epping and Townsend 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. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$6,918 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest 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. |
1976Lowest 4 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. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Atkinson 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | North Middlesex | Epping School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
9.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.