Compare towns
Epsom vs Berlin 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
Epsom has the most affordable homes ($338k median).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
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 | Epsom | Berlin | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,939Highest |
3,378Lowest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±3.4 21% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Epsom and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,941±$13kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$121,336±$12k 50% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $338,400±$19kLowest about the U.S. average |
$616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,212±$437Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,635±$246 16% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,210 99% above U.S. |
$7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$6,086Lowest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 71.2%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Lowest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
34 min 29% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #69 of 120 in NH | #61 of 282 in MA | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epsom School District | Berlin-Boylston | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.