Compare towns
Hampstead vs Wolfeboro vs Derry 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 highest household income ($112k).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
Derry has the youngest population (median age 40.3).
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 | Wolfeboro | Derry | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
6,571Lowest |
34,116Highest |
7,430 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Derry 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% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
| Derry 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±$18kHighest 13% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
$108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
| Hampstead and Derry 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 |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
| Wolfeboro 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 13% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
| Epping and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$8,103 22% above NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Epping School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | Pinkerton Academy | Epping High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
13.9Highest |
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.