Compare towns
Hampstead vs Wakefield 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 most kids (21.3% under 18).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k median).
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 | Wakefield | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102 |
27,793Highest |
7,430Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7Lowest 9% 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%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Wakefield 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% |
19%±1.9Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Hampstead 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. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,958±$102Highest 39% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Epping 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. |
$7,779 149% above U.S. |
$6,936Lowest 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wakefield 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 | #179 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Epping School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Epping High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
9.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.