Compare towns
Epping vs Bennington vs Weare
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Weare has the highest household income ($118k).
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 | Bennington | Weare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,430 |
1,588Lowest |
9,170Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
45.6±4Highest 5% above NH |
| Weare and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37% NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Epping and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
$118,271±$17kHighest 19% above NH |
| Weare 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 9% above NH |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
$396,300±$26k about the NH average |
| Epping and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,292±$150Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,541±$214 3% above NH |
| Epping and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,936Highest 4% above NH |
$5,944Lowest 11% below NH |
$6,272 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 21% above NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
36 min 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Weare 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 | — | #84 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epping School District | Contoocook Valley School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District |
| High school in town | Epping High School | None in town | John Stark Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.