What stands out worked out from the figures below

Carmel has the most affordable homes ($257k median).

Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).

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	Carmel	Epping
People
Population	2,941Lowest	7,430Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.4±4.5Highest 19% above U.S.	45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Carmel and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.6%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Epping and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.5%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Epping and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	17.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	37%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Epping and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$82,188±$22kLowest about the U.S. average	$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S.
	Epping and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$256,800±$37kLowest 23% below U.S.	$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,276±$187Lowest 10% below U.S.	$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S.
	Epping and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,662Lowest 15% below U.S.	$6,936Highest 122% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±38.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Epping and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S.	1989Lowest 9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.	32 minHighest 22% above U.S.
Work from home	6.5%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#77 of 133 in ME	#77 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 87/MSAD 23	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

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.