Compare towns
Derry vs Epping vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Strafford has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Derry | Epping | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
7,430 |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
| Strafford and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Derry and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
| Strafford and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$436,900±$35kHighest 9% above NH |
$427,900±$29kLowest 6% above NH |
| Epping and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% 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 | $8,103Highest 22% above NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest 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 | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 16% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Derry 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Epping School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
9.3Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.