What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Barre has the most renters (24.2% rent).

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	Barre
People
Population	7,430Highest	5,572Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S.	43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S.
	Epping and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22%	15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Epping and Barre 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%	19%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Epping and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Barre 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±$7kLowest 29% above U.S.	$107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S.
	Barre 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.	$394,300±$55kLowest 19% above U.S.
	Epping and Barre 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.	$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S.
	Epping and Barre 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.	$5,163Lowest 66% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Epping and Barre 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%	8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 22% above U.S.	36 minHighest 37% above U.S.
Work from home	24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#77 of 120 in NH	#134 of 282 in MA
School district	Epping School District	Quabbin
High school in town	Epping High School	Quabbin Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.3Lowest	12.9Highest
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.