Compare towns
Sandown vs Methuen vs Epping
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sandown has the highest household income ($135k).
Methuen has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Epping has the oldest population (median age 45.1).
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 | Sandown | Methuen | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,628Lowest |
53,475Highest |
7,430 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.7 5% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Epping and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sandown and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Methuen and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $135,040±$25kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Sandown and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $483,400±$44k 45% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
| Methuen and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$721Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Sandown and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,801Highest 182% above U.S. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.1%±48.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.4%±13.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandown and Epping 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 | #71 of 120 in NH | #236 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Methuen | Epping School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Methuen High | Epping High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
9.3Lowest |
| 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.