Compare towns
Epsom vs Nelson 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 oldest population (median age 47.1).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% 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 | Nelson | Epping | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,939 |
648Lowest |
7,430Highest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.1±3.4Highest 9% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson 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% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson 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% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest 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 |
$99,792±$23k about the NH average |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
| Strafford 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 16% below NH |
$340,900±$49k 15% 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±$437 19% below NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
| Epping and Strafford 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 |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$6,936Highest 4% above NH |
$6,086 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 71.2%±19.7 NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9 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% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% NH: 72.8% |
90.2% 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 |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 15% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson 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 | — | #77 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epsom School District | Nelson 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 History | 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.