Compare towns
Cooper vs Epping vs Alexander vs Shirley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cooper has the oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
Epping has the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Alexander has the oldest population (median age 52.8).
Shirley has the youngest population (median age 42).
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 | Cooper | Epping | Alexander | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 157Lowest |
7,430Highest |
553 |
234 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.5±9.1 20% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
52.8±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
42±8.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Alexander and Cooper are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±17 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±6.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Epping and Alexander are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±14 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shirley and Cooper are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±9.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $48,750±$15kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$93,750±$10k 16% above U.S. |
$61,875±$22k 23% below U.S. |
| Epping and Alexander are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $212,500±$66k 36% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$193,800±$54kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$219,600±$36k 34% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,929 38% below U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$1,781Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$2,522 19% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
— |
| Epping and Alexander are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 20.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
17% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
99%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 44 minHighest 66% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±11 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.7%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Cooper 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 | — | Epping School District | Alexander Public Schools | — |
| High school 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.