Compare towns
Epping vs Methuen vs Epsom
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Methuen has the most renters (27.7% rent).
Epsom has the most affordable homes ($338k 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.
| Measure | Epping | Methuen | Epsom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,430 |
53,475Highest |
4,939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.1±3.4Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Epsom and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Methuen 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% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37% U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Methuen and Epsom 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 29% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$97,941±$13kLowest 21% above U.S. |
| Methuen 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 31% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$338,400±$19kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
$1,212±$437Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Methuen and Epping 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. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$6,210 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
71.2%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epsom and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Epsom 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 | #236 of 282 in MA | #69 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epping School District | Methuen | Epsom School District |
| High school in town | Epping High School | Methuen High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
13.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.