Compare towns
Deering vs Epping vs Strafford vs Weare
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deering has the most affordable homes ($310k median).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Strafford has the highest household income ($122k).
Weare has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
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 | Deering | Epping | Strafford | Weare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938Lowest |
7,430 |
4,306 |
9,170Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
+3.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.8±5.7Highest 13% above NH |
45.1±3.5Lowest 4% above NH |
46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
45.6±4 5% above NH |
| Deering and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±1.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Deering and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Strafford and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,250±$16kLowest about the NH average |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
$118,271±$17k 19% above NH |
| Strafford and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,900±$27kLowest 23% below NH |
$436,900±$35kHighest 9% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$396,300±$26k about the NH average |
| Epping and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,306±$116Lowest 12% below NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$1,541±$214 3% above NH |
| Epping and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,223 7% below NH |
$6,936Highest 4% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$6,272 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.9%±27.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.7% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 49% above NH |
32 minLowest 21% above NH |
36 min 34% above NH |
36 min 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 10%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Weare 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #84 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Epping School District | Strafford School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District |
| High school in town | — | Epping High School | None in town | John Stark Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.