Compare towns
Darien vs Epping vs Ashford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Darien has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Ashford has the most affordable homes ($195k 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 | Darien | Epping | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,988 |
7,430Highest |
1,834Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±8.8 30% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
52.3±6.9Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Ashford and Darien are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
18%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Darien and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashford and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping and Darien are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,423±$15k 10% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$77,558±$11kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Epping and Darien are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $211,400±$21k 36% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$194,600±$43kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$654±$132Lowest 54% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,910 57% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$4,079Lowest 31% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±48.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
19.4%±79.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1948Lowest 32 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #77 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Epping School District | — |
| High school 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.