What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bolton has the highest household income ($205k).

Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bolton	Epping
People
Population	5,737Lowest	7,430Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+15.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+11.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.2±1.7Lowest 6% above U.S.	45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S.
	Epping and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%	18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Bolton and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Epping and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Epping and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$205,449±$31kHighest 154% above U.S.	$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$796,000±$49kHighest 139% above U.S.	$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,583±$1kLowest 12% above U.S.	$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S.
	Epping and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$6,936Lowest 122% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	12.7%±45.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Epping and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Lowest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 39% above U.S.	32 minLowest 22% above U.S.
Work from home	40.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	24%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#28 of 282 in MA	#77 of 120 in NH
School district	Nashoba	Epping School District
High school in town	Nashoba Regional	Epping High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0Highest	9.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.