What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Mechanic Falls has the most affordable homes ($271k 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	Mechanic Falls
People
Population	7,430Highest	3,134Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S.	39.8±4.7Lowest about the U.S. average
	Epping and Mechanic Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	24.1%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Mechanic Falls 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%	16.4%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Epping and Mechanic Falls 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%	15.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Epping and Mechanic Falls 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.	$69,914±$12kLowest 13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S.	$270,900±$44kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S.	$1,076±$208Lowest 24% below U.S.
	Epping and Mechanic Falls 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.	$2,993Lowest 4% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	42.9%±20.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Epping and Mechanic Falls 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%	9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.	1980Lowest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 22% above U.S.	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7.9%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#77 of 120 in NH	#122 of 133 in ME
School district	Epping School District	RSU 16
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

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.