Compare towns
Mapleton vs Epping vs Strafford vs East Machias
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Strafford has the highest household income ($122k).
East Machias has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Mapleton | Epping | Strafford | East Machias |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
7,430Highest |
4,306 |
1,223Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
42.8±2.9 10% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| East Machias and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest 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 | $91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$57,589±$10kLowest 29% below 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 | $191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29k 29% above U.S. |
$210,800±$23k 37% below 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 | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,635±$246 16% above U.S. |
$907±$566 36% 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 | $1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$6,086 95% above U.S. |
$1,836 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±40.3 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 | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.1%±3.1Lowest 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 | — | #77 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Epping School District | Strafford School District | East Machias Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town | 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.