Compare towns
Barnet vs Epping vs Reading vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnet has the most affordable homes ($248k median).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Sharon has the shortest commute (26 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 | Barnet | Epping | Reading | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,855 |
7,430Highest |
699Lowest |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 23% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
| Reading and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Barnet and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnet and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,386±$15kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$84,375±$17k 5% above U.S. |
| Epping and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,900±$24kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
| Epping and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$1,386±$155 about the U.S. average |
| Epping and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$5,903 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Reading 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 | — | — |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Epping School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— | — |
| 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.