Compare towns
Strafford vs Epping vs Sutton vs Gilmanton
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 most people working from home (24%).
Sutton has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Gilmanton has the most homeowners (99.2%).
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 | Sutton | Gilmanton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,306 |
7,430Highest |
2,239Lowest |
4,026 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
48.1±4.1Highest 11% above NH |
45±4.4Lowest 4% above NH |
| Sutton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.5%±6.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Sutton and Epping 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% |
21.6%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Sutton 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% |
44.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6 NH: 6% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Strafford and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$130,313±$31kHighest 32% above NH |
$117,088±$9k 18% above NH |
| Sutton 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±$29k 6% above NH |
$436,900±$35kHighest 9% above NH |
$362,600±$16kLowest 10% below NH |
$363,700±$42k 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 |
$1,656±$614 11% above NH |
$1,125±$421Lowest 25% below NH |
| Epping and Sutton 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 |
$7,652Highest 15% above NH |
$6,235 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.1%±100 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.7% NH: 72.8% |
99.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
29 minLowest 10% above NH |
33 min 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
8.3%±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 | — | #25 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Epping School District | Kearsarge Regional School District | Gilmanton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
10.4Highest |
— |
| 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.