Compare towns
Hampton vs Meredith vs Hampstead 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
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($545k median).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
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 | Hampton | Meredith | Hampstead | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,101Highest |
6,758Lowest |
9,102 |
7,430 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.2±1.7 18% above NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
45.1±3.5Lowest 4% above NH |
| Meredith and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2% NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.7 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,163±$4k about the NH average |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$112,348±$18kHighest 13% above NH |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
| Hampstead and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $545,300±$63kHighest 35% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$436,900±$35kLowest 9% above NH |
| Hampton and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,654±$93 11% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
| Epping and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,872 3% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±13.1 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
30 min 13% above NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 20.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Meredith 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Hampstead School District | Epping School District |
| High school in town | — | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | Epping High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
— | 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.