Compare towns
Dudley vs Epping vs Epsom vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dudley has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Epsom has the oldest population (median age 47.1).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k 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 | Dudley | Epping | Epsom | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929Highest |
7,430 |
4,939Lowest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
47.1±3.4Highest 21% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
| Epsom and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Dudley and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$97,941±$13k 21% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Epping and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19k 18% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$338,400±$19k about the U.S. average |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Epping and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,212±$437 14% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Epping and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$6,210 99% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
71.2%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epsom and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Epsom 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH | #69 of 120 in NH | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Epping School District | Epsom School District | Ware |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Epping High School | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
9.3Lowest |
— | 11.1 |
| 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.