Compare towns
Epping vs Castine vs Weare
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Castine has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Weare has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Castine is a college town. 47.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Castine | Weare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,430 |
1,362Lowest |
9,170Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
21.2±0.7Lowest 46% below U.S. |
45.6±4Highest 17% above U.S. |
| 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%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Weare 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% |
19.9%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Castine 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% |
74.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
47.7%±7.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$113,750±$26k 41% above U.S. |
$118,271±$17kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Weare and Castine 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. |
$603,500±$114kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$396,300±$26kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,105±$104Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,541±$214 9% above U.S. |
| 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 122% above U.S. |
$4,250Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$6,272 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±56Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.2%±24.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 46% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±10.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Castine Public Schools | 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 History | None yet | 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.