Compare towns
Epsom vs Pelham 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).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Pelham | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,939 |
14,449Highest |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.1±3.4Highest 9% above NH |
41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below 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% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Epsom and Strafford 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% |
40%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Pelham and Strafford 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 |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
| Pelham and Strafford 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 |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,212±$437Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,425±$88 4% below NH |
$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
| Strafford and Pelham 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 |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 71.2%±19.7 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Lowest 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% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 15% above NH |
30 minLowest 10% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epsom School District | Pelham School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pelham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.