What stands out worked out from the figures below

Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).

Lenox has the most affordable homes ($162k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Epping	Lenox
People
Population	7,430Lowest	8,658Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.1±3.5 16% above U.S.	45.1±2 16% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.7%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Lenox 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%	21.9%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Epping and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	21.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Epping and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S.	$75,900±$8kLowest 6% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S.	$161,600±$9kLowest 51% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S.	$935±$83Lowest 34% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,936Highest 122% above U.S.	$4,184Lowest 34% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	38.5%±9.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Epping and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	77.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.	1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 22% above U.S.	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.
Work from home	24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#77 of 120 in NH	#412 of 484 in NY
School district	Epping School District	ONEIDA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT · CANASTOTA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	Epping High School	CANASTOTA HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	9.3Lowest	13.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.