Compare towns
Epping vs Exeter vs Francestown
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 the youngest population (median age 45.1).
Exeter has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Francestown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
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 | Exeter | Francestown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,430 |
16,151Highest |
1,398Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5Lowest 4% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
51.2±4.5Highest 18% above NH |
| Francestown and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Francestown and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.7%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter 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±$7k 5% above NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$104,063±$16kLowest 5% above NH |
| Exeter 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±$35k 9% above NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$408,200±$34kLowest about the NH average |
| Exeter and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,742±$576 17% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,358±$256Lowest 9% below NH |
| Exeter and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,936Lowest 4% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$8,014 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±77 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
42 minHighest 57% above NH |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Francestown and Epping 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Epping School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | Epping High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.