Compare towns

Barnstead vs Candia vs Epping

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Candia has the highest household income ($120k).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).

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.

MeasureBarnsteadCandiaEpping
People
Population
4,994
4,134Lowest
7,430Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7%
NH: +4.6%
+2.7%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+11.1%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
42.8±3.1Lowest
about the NH average
48.3±3.8Highest
12% above NH
45.1±3.5
4% above NH
Candia and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21%±5Highest
NH: 18.2%
12.8%±3.5Lowest
NH: 18.2%
18.7%±4.8
NH: 18.2%
Barnstead and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.6%±4.8Lowest
NH: 20.1%
23.1%±4.4Highest
NH: 20.1%
22.6%±5.2
NH: 20.1%
Candia and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.9%
NH: 40.6%
27.7%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
37%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±2.9Highest
NH: 6%
5.7%±2.6
NH: 6%
5.1%±3.3Lowest
NH: 6%
Barnstead and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$111,660±$12k
13% above NH
$119,737±$37kHighest
21% above NH
$104,220±$7kLowest
5% above NH
Candia and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$362,400±$25kLowest
10% below NH
$415,600±$46k
3% above NH
$436,900±$35kHighest
9% above NH
Epping and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,395±$75
6% below NH
$1,213±$554Lowest
19% below NH
$1,742±$576Highest
17% above NH
Epping and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,003Lowest
10% below NH
$6,100
9% below NH
$6,936Highest
4% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.6%±50.9
NH: 48.2%
0%±21.6Lowest
NH: 48.2%
67.8%±25.9Highest
NH: 48.2%
Epping and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.4%
NH: 7.2%
1.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
4.7%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.6%Highest
NH: 72.8%
91.7%
NH: 72.8%
86.3%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
6 yrs newer than NH
1979Lowest
same as NH
1989Highest
10 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minLowest
16% above NH
34 minHighest
29% above NH
32 min
21% above NH
Work from home
13%±4.5
NH: 16.8%
10.8%±4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
24%±6.9Highest
NH: 16.8%
Epping and Barnstead 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 #111 of 120 in NH #41 of 120 in NH #77 of 120 in NH
School district Barnstead School District Candia 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 Our Story 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.