Compare towns
Sandown vs Rochester vs Epping
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sandown has the highest household income ($135k).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Rochester | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,628Lowest |
33,144Highest |
7,430 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.7Lowest 6% below NH |
43±1.8 about the NH average |
45.1±3.5Highest 4% above NH |
| Epping and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Sandown and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.2%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $135,040±$25kHighest 36% above NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
| Sandown and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $483,400±$44kHighest 20% above NH |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
| Sandown and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$721Highest 27% above NH |
$1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,742±$576 17% above NH |
| Sandown and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,801Highest 32% above NH |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.1%±48.3 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| 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 NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5% NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
32 min 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #98 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Rochester School District | Epping School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Spaulding High School | Epping High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.2Highest |
9.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.