Compare towns
Washington vs Epping vs Orange vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Orange has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Washington | Epping | Orange | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,056 |
7,430Highest |
957Lowest |
999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1Highest 36% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
50.3±5.3 29% above U.S. |
50.1±5.9 29% above U.S. |
| Washington and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Epping and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,103±$8kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$71,302±$13k 12% below U.S. |
$72,308±$60k 10% below U.S. |
| Epping and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$37kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$222,000±$22k 33% below U.S. |
$222,900±$56k 33% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $996±$285 30% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,330±$153 6% below U.S. |
$908±$398Lowest 36% below U.S. |
| Epping and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,485Lowest 12% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$3,545 14% above U.S. |
$4,006 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
91.9%±28.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Topsham and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Washington 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 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Epping School District | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| 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 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.