Compare towns
Franklin vs Epping vs Mars Hill
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has the oldest population (median age 46).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Mars Hill has the most affordable homes ($164k 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 | Franklin | Epping | Mars Hill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,628 |
7,430Highest |
1,398Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±9.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
43.4±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Franklin and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mars Hill and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.6%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Franklin and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,455±$16k 19% below U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$65,273±$9kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,800±$59k 26% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$163,600±$23kLowest 51% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $888±$306 37% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$488±$96Lowest 65% below U.S. |
| Epping and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,231 28% below U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$1,843Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.6%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Franklin 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 | — | #77 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Epping School District | RSU 42/MSAD 42 |
| High school in town | — | Epping High School | Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Highest |
8.0Lowest |
| 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.