Compare towns
Hampton Beach vs Wells 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
Hampton Beach has the most renters (37.1% rent).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Epping has the highest household income ($104k).
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 | Hampton Beach | Wells | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,605Lowest |
11,713Highest |
7,430 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Epping and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,557±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$88,024±$11k 9% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Epping and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $508,900±$76kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Epping and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,115 96% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Beach 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 | — | #22 of 133 in ME | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Epping School District |
| High school in town | — | Wells High School | Epping High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Highest |
9.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.