Compare towns
Hampstead vs Townsend vs Pelham vs Epping
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 oldest population (median age 45.3).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Pelham has the highest household income ($136k).
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 | Townsend | Pelham | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
9,100 |
14,449Highest |
7,430Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% 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%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham 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% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest 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% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
37% 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% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham 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. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Pelham 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. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above 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. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% 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% |
67.3%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Pelham 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Pelham 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | North Middlesex | Pelham School District | Epping School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Pelham High School | Epping High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
10.4 |
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.