Compare towns
Epsom vs Gorham 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 kids (18.2% under 18).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($428k 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.
| Measure | Epsom | Gorham | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,939Highest |
2,682Lowest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% NH: +4.6% |
-5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.1±3.4 9% above NH |
53.9±3.6Highest 24% above NH |
46.3±2.1Lowest 7% above NH |
| Gorham 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 NH: 18.2% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
| 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 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Gorham and Strafford 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 |
$61,275±$7kLowest 38% below NH |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
| Strafford and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $338,400±$19k 16% below NH |
$161,600±$49kLowest 60% below NH |
$427,900±$29kHighest 6% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,212±$437 19% below NH |
$838±$83Lowest 44% below NH |
$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
| Strafford and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,210Highest 7% below NH |
$4,334Lowest 35% below NH |
$6,086 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 71.2%±19.7 NH: 48.2% |
41%±20.3Lowest 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% |
4.3% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% NH: 72.8% |
71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 15% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Strafford and Epsom 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 | #57 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epsom School District | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.