Compare towns
Weare vs East Merrimack vs Epping
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).
East Merrimack has grown the fastest since 2010 (+23.3%).
Epping has the most expensive homes ($437k 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 | Weare | East Merrimack | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,170Highest |
5,081Lowest |
7,430 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+23.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4Highest 5% above NH |
41.1±6.1Lowest 5% below NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
| Weare and Epping 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% |
13.1%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.3%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and East Merrimack 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% |
42%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Epping and East Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,271±$17kHighest 19% above NH |
$87,311±$5kLowest 12% below NH |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
| Weare and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,300±$26k about the NH average |
$291,500±$30kLowest 28% below NH |
$436,900±$35kHighest 9% above NH |
| Epping and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$214Lowest 3% above NH |
$1,952±$158Highest 31% above NH |
$1,742±$576 17% above NH |
| East Merrimack and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,272 6% below NH |
$4,652Lowest 30% below NH |
$6,936Highest 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6 NH: 48.2% |
33.2%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest 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% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
21.2%±5.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest 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 | — | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | — | Epping School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | — | Epping High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
— | 9.3Lowest |
| 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.