Compare towns
Epsom vs Manchester vs Ogunquit 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).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Manchester | Ogunquit | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,939 |
115,643Highest |
1,379Lowest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±3.4 21% above U.S. |
38±1Lowest about the U.S. average |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1 19% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±1 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Epsom and Manchester 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% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Manchester 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 21% above U.S. |
$81,007±$2kLowest about the U.S. average |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Ogunquit 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 |
$365,600±$7k 10% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,212±$437Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,564±$37 11% above U.S. |
— | $1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,210Highest 99% above U.S. |
$5,922 90% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,086 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 71.2%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±3.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
48.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #69 of 120 in NH | #115 of 120 in NH | — | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epsom School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | — | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Manchester Memorial High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.