Compare towns
Sheldon vs Epping vs Stratham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k 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 | Sheldon | Epping | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267Lowest |
7,430 |
7,754Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
| Epping and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Lowest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham 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 | — | #77 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Epping School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— |
| 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.