Compare towns
Epsom vs Waterville vs Epping 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 shortest commute (31 min average).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Waterville | Epping | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,939 |
680Lowest |
7,430Highest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±3.4 21% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1 19% above U.S. |
| Waterville and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterville 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Waterville 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. |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$236,300±$15kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29k 29% above U.S. |
| 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 14% below U.S. |
$1,110±$93Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,635±$246 16% above U.S. |
| 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 99% above U.S. |
$3,957Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$6,086 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 71.2%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 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% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
36 min 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #77 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epsom School District | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Epping School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.