What stands out worked out from the figures below

East Merrimack has grown the fastest since 2010 (+23.3%).

Epping has the most expensive homes ($437k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	East Merrimack	Epping
People
Population	5,081Lowest	7,430Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+23.3%Highest NH: +4.6%	+11.1%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	41.1±6.1Lowest 5% below NH	45.1±3.5Highest 4% above NH
	Epping and East Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.1%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2%	18.7%±4.8Highest NH: 18.2%
	Epping and East Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.3%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1%	22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1%
	Epping and East Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42%Highest NH: 40.6%	37%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%	5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6%
	Epping and East Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,311±$5kLowest 12% below NH	$104,220±$7kHighest 5% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$291,500±$30kLowest 28% below NH	$436,900±$35kHighest 9% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,952±$158Highest 31% above NH	$1,742±$576Lowest 17% above NH
	East Merrimack and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,652Lowest 30% below NH	$6,936Highest 4% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.2%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2%	67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2%
	Epping and East Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%	4.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	86.3%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH	1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 13% below NH	32 minHighest 21% above NH
Work from home	21.2%±5.9Lowest NH: 16.8%	24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8%
	Epping and East Merrimack 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	—	Epping School District
High school in town	—	Epping High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.3
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.