Compare towns
Epping vs Ayer vs Epsom
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Epsom has the most affordable homes ($338k 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 | Epping | Ayer | Epsom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,430 |
8,645Highest |
4,939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.1±3.4Highest 21% 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 | 18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer 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% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.3 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+ | 37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epsom and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$97,941±$13kLowest 21% above U.S. |
| Epping and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$338,400±$19kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Ayer and Epping 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. |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,212±$437Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Epping and Ayer 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. |
$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$6,210 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
71.2%±19.7Highest 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 | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Ayer 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #69 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epping School District | Ayer Shirley School District | Epsom School District |
| High school in town | Epping High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
11.5Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.