Compare towns
Epsom vs Meredith 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).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
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 | Meredith | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,939 |
6,758Highest |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.1±3.4 9% above NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
46.3±2.1Lowest 7% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest 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% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.6% NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest 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±$13k about the NH average |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% 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±$19kLowest 16% below NH |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| Meredith and Strafford 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 |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% 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 |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$6,086 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 71.2%±19.7 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest 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% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 15% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epsom School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.