Compare towns
Epsom vs Rye 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).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | Rye | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,939 |
5,611Highest |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.1±3.4 9% above NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
46.3±2.1Lowest 7% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.6% NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
| Rye 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 |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,212±$437Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
| Rye 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 |
$7,519Highest 13% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 71.2%±19.7 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest 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% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 15% above NH |
29 minLowest 8% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #69 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epsom School District | Rye School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.