Compare towns
Epsom vs Merrimac vs Epping
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).
Merrimac has the most expensive homes ($553k median).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
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 | Merrimac | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,939Lowest |
6,748 |
7,430Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±3.4 21% above U.S. |
49.4±6.8Highest 27% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Merrimac 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% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Epping and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Merrimac and Epping 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% |
41%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 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. |
$123,054±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and Epping 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 |
$553,400±$38kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,212±$437Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,352±$325 4% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Epping and Merrimac 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. |
$7,399Highest 137% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 71.2%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epsom and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | #188 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epsom School District | Pentucket | Epping School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Epping High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.