Compare towns
Epping vs Hampton Beach vs Stratham
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 most affordable homes ($437k median).
Hampton Beach has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
Stratham has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Hampton Beach | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,430 |
2,605Lowest |
7,754Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham 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% |
33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37% NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Epping and Stratham 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 |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,900±$35kLowest 9% above NH |
$508,900±$76k 26% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,742±$576 17% above NH |
$1,375±$130Lowest 8% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Stratham and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,936 4% above NH |
$6,115Lowest 8% below NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Beach and Stratham 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 | — | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epping School District | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Epping High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.