Compare towns
Litchfield vs Epping vs Pelham vs Hampstead
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 the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Pelham has the most expensive homes ($553k median).
Hampstead has the most renters (17.9% rent).
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 | Pelham | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,499 |
7,430Lowest |
14,449Highest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.7 about the NH average |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
45.3±6.1Highest 5% above 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% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Litchfield and Pelham 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% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Pelham and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $162,036±$11kHighest 64% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
| Litchfield and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,000±$18k 20% above NH |
$436,900±$35kLowest 9% above NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
| Pelham and Hampstead 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 |
$1,425±$88 4% below NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
| Litchfield and Epping 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 |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 81.5%±38.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest 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% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Lowest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1987Lowest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 9% above NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Pelham 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Litchfield School District | Epping School District | Pelham School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Campbell High School | Epping High School | Pelham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
9.3Lowest |
10.4 |
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| 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.