Compare towns
Epping vs Orono 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%).
Orono has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Epsom has the oldest population (median age 47.1).
Orono is a college town. 56.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Orono | Epsom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,430 |
11,902Highest |
4,939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below 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%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
6.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Epping and Epsom 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% |
11.4%±1.9Lowest 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% |
66.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
56.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$61,528±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$97,941±$13k 21% above U.S. |
| Epping and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$272,600±$40kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$338,400±$19k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,255±$112 11% below U.S. |
$1,212±$437Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Epping and Orono 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. |
$4,830Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$6,210 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.1%±10.6Lowest 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% |
24.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
46.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±3.2Lowest 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 | #26 of 133 in ME | #69 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epping School District | RSU 26 | Epsom School District |
| High school in town | Epping High School | Orono High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
10.7Highest |
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| 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.