Compare towns
Lee vs Epping vs Strafford vs Stockbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the most affordable homes ($353k median).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Strafford has the most homeowners (93.5%).
Stockbridge has the most people working from home (52.4%).
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 | Lee | Epping | Strafford | Stockbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,719 |
7,430Highest |
4,306 |
2,056Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8 42% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1 19% above U.S. |
63.7±3.5Highest 64% above U.S. |
| Stockbridge and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±5 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
8.4%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Epping and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
47%±7.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stockbridge and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,750±$13kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22k 51% above U.S. |
$146,250±$67kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Stockbridge and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29k 29% above U.S. |
$600,000±$99kHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212 about the U.S. average |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,635±$246 16% above U.S. |
$858±$375Lowest 39% below 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 | $3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$6,086 95% above U.S. |
$4,652 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.8%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
52.4%±19.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #209 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lee | Epping School District | Strafford School District | — |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Epping High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
9.3Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 20 photos → | 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.