Compare towns
Strafford vs Epping vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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%).
Union has the most affordable homes ($268k 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 | Strafford | Epping | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306 |
7,430Highest |
2,663Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| 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%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Union 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Strafford and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,900±$29k 29% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$267,600±$42kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| 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 16% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,179±$452Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| 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 95% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | Epping School District | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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.