Compare towns
Litchfield vs Epping vs Hampstead vs Merrimack
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Litchfield has the highest household income ($162k).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k median).
Merrimack has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Litchfield | Epping | Hampstead | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,499 |
7,430Lowest |
9,102 |
28,164Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.7 about the NH average |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
41.5±2.2Lowest 4% below NH |
| Hampstead and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Litchfield and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.9%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| 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+ | 46.7% NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
50.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $162,036±$11kHighest 64% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$127,219±$16k 28% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,000±$18k 20% above NH |
$436,900±$35kLowest 9% above NH |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$458,600±$15k 14% above NH |
| Hampstead and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,138±$406Highest 43% above NH |
$1,742±$576 17% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,932±$147 30% above NH |
| Litchfield and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,273 24% above NH |
$6,936Lowest 4% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$7,345 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 81.5%±38.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Litchfield and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Litchfield 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 | #53 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Litchfield School District | Epping School District | Hampstead School District | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | Campbell High School | Epping High School | None in town | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
9.3Lowest |
— | 12.5Highest |
| 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.