Compare towns
Bernardston vs Epping vs Leyden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bernardston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Leyden has the oldest population (median age 53.2).
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 | Bernardston | Epping | Leyden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,164 |
7,430Highest |
637Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±3.2 26% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
53.2±8.2Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Leyden and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Epping and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,940±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$105,893±$13kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Leyden and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,000±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$372,900±$24k 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,283±$553Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,917±$451Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Leyden and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,516Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$4,651 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Bernardston 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 | Pioneer Valley | Epping School District | — |
| High school 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.