Compare towns
Appleton vs Epping vs Raymond vs Strong
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Raymond has the youngest population (median age 43.4).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
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 | Appleton | Epping | Raymond | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
7,430 |
10,900Highest |
1,249Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
43.4±3.8Lowest 12% above U.S. |
47.5±8.9 22% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strong and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping and Raymond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19k 34% below U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$104,597±$10kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$47,557±$10kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Raymond and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$370,400±$17k 11% above U.S. |
$183,900±$29kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,376±$196 about the U.S. average |
$920±$276Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Epping and Raymond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$6,146 97% above U.S. |
$1,950Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.1%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 13% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±9.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Strong 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 | — | #77 of 120 in NH | #96 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Epping School District | Raymond School District | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | Raymond High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
11.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.