Compare towns
Weare vs Epping vs Strafford vs Deering
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).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Strafford has the highest household income ($122k).
Deering has the most affordable homes ($310k 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 | Epping | Strafford | Deering |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,170Highest |
7,430 |
4,306 |
1,938Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
-0.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4 5% above NH |
45.1±3.5Lowest 4% above NH |
46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
48.8±5.7Highest 13% above NH |
| Deering and Strafford 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% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
17.3%±4.3Lowest 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% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
23.9%±1.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Deering and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
31%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Strafford and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,271±$17k 19% above NH |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
$101,250±$16kLowest about the NH average |
| Strafford 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±$26k about the NH average |
$436,900±$35kHighest 9% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$309,900±$27kLowest 23% below NH |
| Epping and Strafford 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 |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$1,306±$116Lowest 12% below NH |
| Epping and Strafford 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 |
$6,936Highest 4% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$6,223 7% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.9%±27.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Epping 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
14.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 34% above NH |
32 minLowest 21% above NH |
36 min 34% above NH |
40 minHighest 49% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
10%±2.7Lowest 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Epping School District | Strafford 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.