Compare towns
Epsom vs Plainville 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).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
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 | Plainville | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,939 |
9,943Highest |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±3.4Highest 21% above U.S. |
43.2±3.6Lowest 11% 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% |
18.3%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainville and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville 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% |
44.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 21% above U.S. |
$104,106±$13k 29% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Plainville 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 |
$476,000±$35kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29k 29% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,212±$437Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,635±$246 16% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,210Highest 99% above U.S. |
$5,329Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$6,086 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 71.2%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±13.6Lowest 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% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainville 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 | #102 of 282 in MA | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epsom School District | Plainville | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.