Compare towns
Dummerston vs Epping vs Rochester vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
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 | Dummerston | Epping | Rochester | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
7,430Highest |
1,389Lowest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
53.3±7.6Highest 37% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Rochester and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$72,676±$8kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$253,600±$81kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
| Epping and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$929±$158Lowest 34% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
| Epping and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536 45% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$3,977Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
40.8%±27.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rochester and Middlesex 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Epping School District | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town | 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.