Compare towns
Brooks vs Epping vs Waldo vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brooks has the most affordable homes ($197k median).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Waldo has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Franklin has the oldest population (median age 46).
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 | Brooks | Epping | Waldo | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
7,430Highest |
926Lowest |
1,628 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6 18% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
37.5±9.6Lowest 4% below U.S. |
46±9.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Franklin and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Waldo and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.6%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Franklin and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brooks and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,130±$10kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$71,458±$21k 11% below U.S. |
$65,455±$16k 19% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,700±$33kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$208,000±$41k 37% below U.S. |
$245,800±$59k 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,116±$112 21% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,150±$691 19% below U.S. |
$888±$306Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Epping and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,096 33% below U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$1,623Lowest 48% below U.S. |
$2,231 28% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.1%±36.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.7%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waldo and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Lowest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Waldo 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 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | Epping School District | Waldo-Region 7 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | 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.