Compare towns
Epsom vs Epping vs Pembroke 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
Epsom has the most affordable homes ($338k median).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Pembroke has the most kids (24% under 18).
Strafford 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.
| Measure | Epsom | Epping | Pembroke | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,939 |
7,430 |
7,438Highest |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.1±3.4Highest 9% above NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
41.9±3.3Lowest 3% below NH |
46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
| Epsom and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4 NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| 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±$13k about the NH average |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
| Strafford and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $338,400±$19kLowest 16% below NH |
$436,900±$35kHighest 9% above NH |
$371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| Epping and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,212±$437Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,218±$354 18% below NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
| Epping and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,210 7% below NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$7,589Highest 14% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 71.2%±19.7 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9 NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| 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 NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 15% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Pembroke 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 | #69 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epsom School District | Epping School District | Pembroke School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | Pembroke Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
13.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.