What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Middleborough has the most renters (23.1% rent).

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	Middleborough
People
Population	7,430Lowest	24,505Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S.	43.4±2.1Lowest 12% above U.S.
	Epping and Middleborough 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%	18.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Middleborough 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%	21.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Epping and Middleborough 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%	32%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Epping and Middleborough 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.	$97,056±$7kLowest 20% above U.S.
	Epping and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S.	$468,700±$18kHighest 41% above U.S.
	Middleborough and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S.	$1,706±$72Lowest 21% above U.S.
	Epping and Middleborough 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.	$6,023Lowest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	57.2%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Epping and Middleborough 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%	6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	76.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 22% above U.S.	31 minLowest 18% above U.S.
Work from home	24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#77 of 120 in NH	#170 of 282 in MA
School district	Epping School District	Middleborough
High school in town	Epping High School	Middleborough High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.3Lowest	11.3Highest
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.