Compare towns
Fremont vs Strafford vs Epping vs Barnstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k 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 | Fremont | Strafford | Epping | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,831 |
4,306Lowest |
7,430Highest |
4,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±3.4 about the NH average |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
| Strafford and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±5.9 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Fremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Fremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.3% NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $120,781±$18k 22% above NH |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
| Strafford and Fremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $416,900±$31k 4% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$436,900±$35kHighest 9% above NH |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
| Epping and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,668±$795Highest 79% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$1,742±$576 17% above NH |
$1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
| Fremont and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,954Highest 4% above NH |
$6,086 9% below NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 94.2%±5.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9 NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Fremont and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.5% NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
31 minLowest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 8.9%±4.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5 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 | #91 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fremont School District | Strafford School District | Epping School District | Barnstead 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 Our Story | 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.