Compare towns
Weare vs Strafford 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 affordable homes ($396k median).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Strafford | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,170Highest |
1,372Lowest |
7,430 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±4 17% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| 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%±4 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Strafford 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% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,271±$17kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Weare 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 19% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| 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 9% above U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Epping and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,272Lowest 101% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest 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 | — | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Strafford 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 |
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.