Compare towns
Springfield vs Epping vs Meredith vs Stoddard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Epping has the youngest population (median age 45.1).
Meredith has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Stoddard has the most affordable homes ($330k 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 | Springfield | Epping | Meredith | Stoddard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,122 |
7,430Highest |
6,758 |
1,072Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+11.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.4±8.8 19% above NH |
45.1±3.5Lowest 4% above NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
53±4 22% above NH |
| Meredith and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±8 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Epping and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Epping and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,893±$19k about the NH average |
$104,220±$7kHighest 5% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$94,904±$11k 4% below NH |
| Epping and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,100±$50k 5% below NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
$330,300±$20kLowest 18% below NH |
| Meredith and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$217 26% below NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,149±$304 23% below NH |
$895±$751Lowest 40% below NH |
| Epping and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,946 11% below NH |
$6,936Highest 4% above NH |
$5,006 25% below NH |
$4,316Lowest 35% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
52.6%±100 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
34 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.7%±11.6 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Epping School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Stoddard School District |
| High school in town | — | Epping High School | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.