Compare towns
Epping vs Ogunquit vs Salem
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 kids (18.7% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Salem has the most renters (24.4% 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.
| Measure | Epping | Ogunquit | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,430 |
1,379Lowest |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Epping and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Salem 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
— | $1,625±$146Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Epping and Salem 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. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Salem 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit 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 | — | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epping School District | — | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Epping High School | — | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
— | 11.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.