Compare towns
Weare vs Stratham vs Epping vs Gilford
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 affordable homes ($396k median).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Gilford has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Stratham | Epping | Gilford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,170Highest |
7,754 |
7,430Lowest |
7,830 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4 5% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
48.2±3.9Highest 11% above NH |
| Gilford 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 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Weare 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% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Gilford 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% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Epping and Weare 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 |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$116,635±$11k 18% above NH |
| Stratham 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±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$456,500±$56k 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$214 3% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,742±$576 17% above NH |
$1,150±$747Lowest 23% below NH |
| Stratham 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 |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$4,868Lowest 27% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±8.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Stratham 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% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
6.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
32 min 21% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH | #45 of 120 in NH |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Epping School District | Gilford School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | None in town | Epping High School | Gilford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | 9.3Lowest |
11.5Highest |
| 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.