What stands out worked out from the figures below

Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).

Shirley has the highest household income ($122k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Epping	Shirley
People
Population	7,430Highest	6,976Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S.	44.3±3.4Lowest 14% above U.S.
	Epping and Shirley 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%	16.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Epping and Shirley 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%	19.8%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Epping and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	36.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Shirley 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 29% above U.S.	$122,365±$16kHighest 52% above U.S.
	Shirley 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.	$427,600±$36kLowest 29% above U.S.
	Epping and Shirley 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.	$1,481±$421Lowest 5% above U.S.
	Epping and Shirley 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.	$5,156Lowest 65% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	57.1%±21.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Epping and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	77.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.	1984Lowest 4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 22% above U.S.	40 minHighest 53% above U.S.
Work from home	24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	21%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Epping and Shirley 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	#239 of 282 in MA
School district	Epping School District	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Epping High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	9.3	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.