Compare towns
Epping vs Laconia vs Strafford
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%).
Laconia has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Strafford has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Laconia | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,430 |
17,085Highest |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5Lowest 4% above NH |
45.3±3.9 5% above NH |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
| Strafford and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Epping and Laconia 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% |
22.8%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Laconia 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% NH: 40.6% |
27.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Strafford 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 |
$73,218±$12kLowest 26% below NH |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
| Strafford 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 |
$340,300±$16kLowest 15% below NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| Epping and Strafford 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 |
$1,224±$107Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
| Epping and Strafford 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 |
$4,484Lowest 33% below NH |
$6,086 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9 NH: 48.2% |
54.5%±10.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Epping 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% |
12.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Strafford 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 | #105 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epping School District | Laconia School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | Epping High School | Laconia High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
10.0Highest |
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| 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.