Compare towns
Strafford vs Epping vs Mendon vs Tunbridge
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 most kids (23% under 18).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Tunbridge has the most affordable homes ($315k 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 | Mendon | Tunbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
7,430Highest |
1,113Lowest |
1,253 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
42.7±8.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mendon and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$89,464±$26kLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$357,000±$44k 7% above U.S. |
$315,300±$23kLowest 5% 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 | $1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
$1,346±$128 5% below U.S. |
| Epping and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$5,342 71% above U.S. |
$4,645Lowest 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.7%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.8%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Tunbridge and Epping 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 | — | #77 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | Epping School District | — | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| 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 | 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.