Compare towns
Epping vs Sandown vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Sandown has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Strafford has the most homeowners (93.5%).
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 | Sandown | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,430Highest |
6,628 |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
40.8±3.7Lowest 6% below NH |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
| Strafford 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 NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Sandown 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 NH: 20.1% |
14.2%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37% NH: 40.6% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Strafford and Epping 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 5% above NH |
$135,040±$25kHighest 36% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
| Sandown and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$483,400±$44kHighest 20% above NH |
$427,900±$29kLowest 6% above NH |
| Sandown and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,742±$576 17% above NH |
$1,893±$721Highest 27% above NH |
$1,635±$246Lowest 10% above NH |
| Sandown and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,936 4% above NH |
$8,801Highest 32% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9 NH: 48.2% |
64.1%±48.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% NH: 72.8% |
82.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 21% above NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown 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 | #71 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epping School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | Epping High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.