Compare towns
Epsom vs Lancaster vs Epping vs Newton
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).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Newton has the most homeowners (90.1%).
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 | Lancaster | Epping | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,939 |
8,606Highest |
7,430 |
4,836Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±3.4 21% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
47.8±5.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Newton 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% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster 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% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epsom and Epping 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. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$138,487±$29kHighest 72% above U.S. |
| Newton and Lancaster 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 |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$459,500±$18k 38% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Newton 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. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,683±$96 19% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,210Lowest 99% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$8,124Highest 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 71.2%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±41.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epsom and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Epping 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH | #70 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epsom School District | Nashoba | Epping School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.3 |
— |
| 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.