Compare towns
Epsom vs Gilmanton vs Strafford vs Chichester
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).
Gilmanton has the most homeowners (99.2%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($428k median).
Chichester has the most people working from home (19%).
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 | Gilmanton | Strafford | Chichester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,939Highest |
4,026 |
4,306 |
2,745Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.1±3.4Highest 9% above NH |
45±4.4 4% above NH |
46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
43±3.3Lowest about the NH average |
| 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% |
17.5%±6.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
20.3%±4.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Chichester and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Epsom and Strafford 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% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4 NH: 6% |
4.2%±2.8 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest 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±$13kLowest about the NH average |
$117,088±$9k 18% above NH |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
$109,297±$13k 10% above NH |
| Strafford and Gilmanton 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 |
$363,700±$42k 10% below NH |
$427,900±$29kHighest 6% above NH |
$409,300±$26k about the NH average |
| Strafford and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,212±$437 19% below NH |
$1,125±$421Lowest 25% below NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$2,055±$275Highest 38% above NH |
| Chichester 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 |
$6,235 6% below NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$7,189Highest 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 71.2%±19.7 NH: 48.2% |
57.1%±100 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.6%±34.4Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% NH: 72.8% |
99.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
85.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 15% above NH |
33 min 23% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
30 minLowest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
8.3%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
19%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Chichester and Strafford 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 | #25 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH | #75 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epsom School District | Gilmanton School District | Strafford School District | Chichester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.