Compare towns
Charleston vs Epping vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Charleston has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($222k 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.
| Measure | Charleston | Epping | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 936Lowest |
7,430Highest |
957 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±9.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
50.3±5.3 29% above U.S. |
| Charleston and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Epping and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 37.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $49,286±$17kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$71,302±$13k 12% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,000±$53k 28% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$222,000±$22kLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $979±$444Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,330±$153 6% below U.S. |
| Epping and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,750 20% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$3,545Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±26.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.7%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Charleston 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 | Charleston School District | Epping School District | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| 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 |
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.