Compare towns
Cooper vs Epping vs Mapleton 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 population (median age 46.5).
Epping has the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Shirley has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Mapleton | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 157Lowest |
7,430Highest |
1,884 |
234 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 46.5±9.1Highest 20% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42±8.2 8% above U.S. |
| Cooper and Epping 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%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Epping 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest 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% |
34.3% 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%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $48,750±$15kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$61,875±$22k 23% below U.S. |
| Epping and Mapleton 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$219,600±$36k 34% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,929 38% below U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 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% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
— |
| Below poverty line | 20.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
17% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest 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. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older 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. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±11 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| 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.