Compare towns
Strafford vs Newton vs Epsom
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%).
Newton has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Epsom has the most affordable homes ($338k 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 | Newton | Epsom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306Lowest |
4,836 |
4,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1Lowest 7% above NH |
47.8±5.7Highest 10% above NH |
47.1±3.4 9% above NH |
| Newton and Epsom 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% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Epsom 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% |
16%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±3.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Epsom 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% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 6% |
5.2%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Strafford and Epsom 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 |
$138,487±$29kHighest 40% above NH |
$97,941±$13kLowest about the NH average |
| Newton 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 |
$459,500±$18kHighest 14% above NH |
$338,400±$19kLowest 16% below NH |
| Newton 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 |
$1,683±$96Highest 13% above NH |
$1,212±$437Lowest 19% below NH |
| Newton 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 |
$8,124Highest 22% above NH |
$6,210 7% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
62%±41.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
71.2%±19.7 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% |
7.5% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.1% NH: 72.8% |
87.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
30 minLowest 13% above NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Newton 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 | #70 of 120 in NH | #69 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Epsom School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.