Compare towns

Epsom vs Freeport vs Epping 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).
Freeport has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
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.

MeasureEpsomFreeportEppingStrafford
People
Population
4,939
8,802Highest
7,430
4,306Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.1±3.4
21% above U.S.
48.8±4.3Highest
25% above U.S.
45.1±3.5Lowest
16% above U.S.
46.3±2.1
19% above U.S.
Freeport and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.2%±4.9
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.7%±4.8
U.S.: 22%
17.6%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Freeport 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
U.S.: 17.2%
26.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±5.2
U.S.: 17.2%
19.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Freeport and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
59.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±3.3
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.
$107,326±$19k
33% above U.S.
$104,220±$7k
29% above U.S.
$122,105±$22kHighest
51% above U.S.
Strafford and Freeport 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
$508,400±$76kHighest
53% above U.S.
$436,900±$35k
31% above U.S.
$427,900±$29k
29% above U.S.
Freeport and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,212±$437Lowest
14% below U.S.
$1,439±$123
about the U.S. average
$1,742±$576Highest
23% above U.S.
$1,635±$246
16% above U.S.
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
99% above U.S.
$5,042Lowest
62% above U.S.
$6,936Highest
122% above U.S.
$6,086
95% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
71.2%±19.7
U.S.: 51.1%
62%±18.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
67.8%±25.9
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%
8.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
77.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1984Lowest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
17% above U.S.
24 minLowest
11% below U.S.
32 min
22% above U.S.
36 minHighest
36% above U.S.
Work from home
13.1%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.2%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
24%±6.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.9%±5
U.S.: 15.1%
Epping and Freeport 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 #4 of 133 in ME #77 of 120 in NH #73 of 120 in NH
School district Epsom School District RSU 05 Epping School District Strafford School District
High school in town None in town Freeport High School Epping High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.2Highest
9.3Lowest
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.