Compare towns
Strafford vs Epping vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the most homeowners (93.5%).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Strafford | Epping | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306Lowest |
7,430 |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
| Strafford and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Epping and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| 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+ | 40.2% NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
| Durham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,900±$29kLowest 6% above NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
| Durham and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
| Epping and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Durham 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Epping School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.