Compare towns
Weare vs Durham vs Epping vs Dunbarton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Weare has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Weare | Durham | Epping | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,170 |
10,681Highest |
7,430 |
3,097Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4 5% above NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±3 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,271±$17k 19% above NH |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$124,348±$21kHighest 26% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
| Durham and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$214 3% above NH |
$1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
| Epping and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1989 10 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Weare 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 | #84 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | — | Epping School District | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | — | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
— | 9.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.