Compare towns
Ashby vs Atkinson 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
Ashby has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
Atkinson has the most expensive homes ($555k median).
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 | Ashby | Atkinson | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
7,267 |
7,430Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 30% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Epping and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Atkinson and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Atkinson and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9k 43% above U.S. |
$146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Epping and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$6,918 122% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Atkinson 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 | #200 of 282 in MA | #32 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Middlesex | Timberlane Regional School District | Epping School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Epping High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.