What stands out worked out from the figures below

Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).

Auburn has the shortest commute (26 min average).

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	Epping	Auburn
People
Population	7,430Lowest	16,970Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S.	44.8±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S.
	Epping and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	21%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Auburn and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Epping and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	45.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Epping and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S.	$116,711±$10kHighest 45% above U.S.
	Auburn and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S.	$400,000±$16kLowest 20% above U.S.
	Epping and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S.	$1,467±$155Lowest 4% above U.S.
	Epping and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,936Highest 122% above U.S.	$5,289Lowest 70% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	51.4%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Epping and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	79.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 22% above U.S.	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#77 of 120 in NH	#106 of 282 in MA
School district	Epping School District	Auburn
High school in town	Epping High School	Auburn Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.3Lowest	12.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.