Compare towns
Weare vs New Hampton 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).
New Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.7).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Strafford has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | New Hampton | Epping | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,170Highest |
2,509Lowest |
7,430 |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4 5% above NH |
51.7±2.7Highest 19% above NH |
45.1±3.5Lowest 4% above NH |
46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.8%±4.3Lowest 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% |
24.8%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| New Hampton 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% |
32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest 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 |
$95,250±$35kLowest 4% below NH |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
| 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 |
$383,700±$37kLowest 5% below NH |
$436,900±$35kHighest 9% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above 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 |
$749±$433Lowest 50% below NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above 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 |
$4,973Lowest 25% below NH |
$6,936Highest 4% above NH |
$6,086 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6 NH: 48.2% |
21.3%±21.6Lowest 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% |
13.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.7% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 34% above NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
32 minLowest 21% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 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 | Newfound Area School District | Epping School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | None in town | 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.