Compare towns
Barnstead vs Epping vs Epsom vs Lee
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 youngest population (median age 42.8).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Epsom has the most affordable homes ($338k median).
Lee has the highest household income ($132k).
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 | Barnstead | Epping | Epsom | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994 |
7,430Highest |
4,939 |
4,576Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.9% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
47.1±3.4Highest 9% above NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
| Epsom and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Barnstead 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% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
40.6% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.2%±2.4 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Lee 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 |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$97,941±$13kLowest about the NH average |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
| Lee 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±$25k 10% below NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$338,400±$19kLowest 16% below NH |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
| Lee and Epping 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 |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,212±$437Lowest 19% below 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 |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$6,210 7% below NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9 NH: 48.2% |
71.2%±19.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Epsom and Epping 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% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.6% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
28 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #69 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Epping School District | Epsom School District | Oyster River Coop 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 Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → |
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.