What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).

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	Springfield
People
Population	7,430Lowest	154,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S.	33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S.
Kids under 18	18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Springfield 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 U.S.: 17.2%	13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7.5%±0.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Springfield 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±$7kHighest 29% above U.S.	$52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S.	$245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S.	$1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S.
	Epping and Springfield 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.	$3,695Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	57.7%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Epping and Springfield 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%	25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	49.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.	1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 22% above U.S.	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.
Work from home	24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#77 of 120 in NH	#276 of 282 in MA
School district	Epping School District	Springfield
High school in town	Epping High School	Springfield Central High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.3Lowest	12.2Highest
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.