Compare towns
Epping vs Sharon vs Strafford
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Sharon has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Sharon | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,430Highest |
1,577 |
1,372Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Sharon 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% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Sharon 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% |
25.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sharon and Epping 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% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$84,375±$17kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Epping 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. |
$346,700±$37kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
| Epping and Strafford 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. |
$1,386±$155 about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Epping and Sharon 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. |
$5,903Lowest 89% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Strafford 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Strafford 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 | — | — |
| School district | Epping School District | Sharon 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 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.