Compare towns

Epping vs Needham 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

Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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.

MeasureEppingNeedhamEpsom
People
Population
7,430
32,459Highest
4,939Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+11.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.1±3.5
16% above U.S.
43.1±1.6Lowest
11% above U.S.
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%
27.5%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
22.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±1.7Lowest
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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
81.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Needham 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.
$214,308±$13kHighest
165% above U.S.
$97,941±$13kLowest
21% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$436,900±$35k
31% above U.S.
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
$338,400±$19kLowest
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,742±$576
23% above U.S.
$2,409±$183Highest
70% above U.S.
$1,212±$437Lowest
14% below U.S.
Needham and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,936
122% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$6,210Lowest
99% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.8%±25.9
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±8.5Lowest
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%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 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%±6.9
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Needham and Epping 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 #19 of 282 in MA #69 of 120 in NH
School district Epping School District Needham Epsom School District
High school in town Epping High School Needham High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.3Lowest
11.9Highest
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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.