Compare towns
Epsom vs Walpole vs Strafford vs Epping
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).
Walpole has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Strafford has the highest household income ($122k).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Walpole | Strafford | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,939 |
3,690Lowest |
4,306 |
7,430Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% NH: +4.6% |
-2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.1±3.4Highest 9% above NH |
46.5±10.4 7% above NH |
46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
45.1±3.5Lowest 4% above NH |
| Epsom and Walpole 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%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Walpole 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% |
25.5%±5.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Walpole 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4 NH: 6% |
4%±2.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 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±$13k about the NH average |
$82,617±$16kLowest 17% below NH |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
$104,220±$7k 5% 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±$19k 16% below NH |
$319,800±$48kLowest 21% below NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$436,900±$35kHighest 9% 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 |
$1,165±$150Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% 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 |
$6,078Lowest 9% below NH |
$6,086 9% below NH |
$6,936Highest 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 71.2%±19.7 NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±21.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9 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% |
11.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% NH: 72.8% |
69.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 15% above NH |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Epping 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 | #27 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epsom School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Strafford School District | Epping School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Epping High School |
| 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.