Compare towns
Epsom vs Ware 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 oldest population (median age 47.1).
Ware has the most renters (27.7% rent).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($428k median).
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 | Ware | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,939 |
10,048Highest |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±3.4Highest 21% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 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% |
19.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ware 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epsom and Ware 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest 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±$13k 21% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $338,400±$19k about the U.S. average |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$427,900±$29kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,212±$437 14% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Epsom 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. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$6,086 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 71.2%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Lowest 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% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford and Epsom 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epsom School District | Ware | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.