Compare towns
Weare vs Hanover vs Epping vs Strafford
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).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Hanover | Epping | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,170 |
11,685Highest |
7,430 |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4 5% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
| Strafford 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% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 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% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Hanover 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% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,271±$17k 19% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
| Hanover and Strafford 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 |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$214Lowest 3% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,742±$576 17% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
| Hanover 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest 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% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 34% above NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover 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 | #84 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Epping School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | Hanover High School | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
10.7 |
9.3Lowest |
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| 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.