Compare towns
Castine vs Epping vs Alna
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castine has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Alna has the most kids (32.9% under 18).
Castine is a college town. 47.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Castine | Epping | Alna |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,362 |
7,430Highest |
818Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 21.2±0.7Lowest 46% below U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
40.7±10.5 5% above U.S. |
| Epping and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
32.9%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Castine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 74.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 47.7%±7.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$26kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$93,125±$16kLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Castine and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,500±$114kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$367,400±$55kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$104 22% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,088±$176Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Epping and Castine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,250 36% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$3,667Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±56 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±70.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Castine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 46% below U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±10.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Alna 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 | Castine Public Schools | 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.