Compare towns
Weare vs Plainfield vs Wilder vs Epping
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Weare has the most homeowners (93.5%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 38.9).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
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 | Plainfield | Wilder | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,170Highest |
2,522Lowest |
3,087 |
7,430 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±4Highest 17% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
| Weare and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder 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 46% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
| Plainfield 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 19% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$214 9% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Epping and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,272 101% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | — | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Plainfield School District | — | Epping School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | None in town | — | 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 | None yet |
U.S. 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.