Compare towns
Strafford vs Epping vs Epsom vs Barnstead
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 highest household income ($122k).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Epsom has the most affordable homes ($338k median).
Barnstead has the most kids (21% under 18).
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 | Epsom | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,306Lowest |
7,430Highest |
4,939 |
4,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
47.1±3.4Highest 9% above NH |
42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
| Epsom and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Epsom 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% NH: 40.6% |
40.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.2%±2.4 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$97,941±$13kLowest about the NH average |
$111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
| Strafford and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$436,900±$35kHighest 9% above NH |
$338,400±$19kLowest 16% below NH |
$362,400±$25k 10% below NH |
| Epping and Strafford 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 |
$1,212±$437Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,395±$75 6% 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 | $6,086 9% below NH |
$6,936Highest 4% above NH |
$6,210 7% below NH |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9 NH: 48.2% |
71.2%±19.7 NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
31 minLowest 15% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Strafford 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 | #69 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Epping School District | Epsom School District | Barnstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.