Compare towns
Epsom vs Needham vs Epping 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).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Strafford has the most homeowners (93.5%).
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 | Needham | Epping | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,939 |
32,459Highest |
7,430 |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±3.4Highest 21% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1 19% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1 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% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,941±$13kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22k 51% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $338,400±$19kLowest about the U.S. average |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,212±$437Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,635±$246 16% above U.S. |
| Needham and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,210 99% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$6,086Lowest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 71.2%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epsom School District | — | Epping School District | Strafford School District |
| High school 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.