What stands out worked out from the figures below

Epsom has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).

Putnam has the shortest commute (21 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Epsom	Putnam
People
Population	4,939Highest	540Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.1±3.4Lowest 21% above U.S.	53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S.
	Putnam and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22%	17.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Epsom and Putnam 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%	35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Epsom and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$97,941±$13kHighest 21% above U.S.	$92,344±$14kLowest 14% above U.S.
	Epsom and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$338,400±$19kHighest about the U.S. average	$266,200±$48kLowest 20% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,212±$437 14% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,210Highest 99% above U.S.	$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	71.2%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Epsom and Putnam 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%	7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.	21 minLowest 19% below U.S.
Work from home	13.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Epsom and Putnam 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	—
School district	Epsom School District	PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.