Compare towns
Epsom vs Mason vs Epping 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 affordable homes ($338k median).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Mason | Epping | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,939 |
1,451Lowest |
7,430Highest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% NH: +4.6% |
+4.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.1±3.4Highest 9% above NH |
43.7±2.3Lowest about the NH average |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
| 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% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Mason 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 NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.5% NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4 NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest 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 |
$111,090±$3k 12% above NH |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
| Strafford and Mason 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 |
$384,000±$21k 5% below NH |
$436,900±$35kHighest 9% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| Epping and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,212±$437Lowest 19% below NH |
$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
$1,742±$576 17% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
| Mason and Epping 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 |
$7,049Highest 6% above NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 71.2%±19.7 NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Strafford 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 15% above NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
36 min 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Mason 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 | — | #77 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epsom School District | Mason School District | Epping School District | Strafford 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 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.