Compare towns
Weare vs Sutton vs Durham vs Epping
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).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Sutton | Durham | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,170 |
2,239Lowest |
15,080Highest |
7,430 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4 5% above NH |
48.1±4.1Highest 11% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
| Sutton 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% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±3 NH: 20.1% |
21.6%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Sutton 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% |
44.3% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,271±$17k 19% above NH |
$130,313±$31kHighest 32% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
| Sutton and Durham 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 |
$362,600±$16kLowest 10% below NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
| Durham 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 3% above NH |
$1,656±$614 11% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
| Epping and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
$7,652 15% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Durham 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% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% NH: 72.8% |
95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
29 min 10% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Kearsarge Regional School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Epping School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | Kearsarge Regional High School | Oyster River High School | Epping High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
10.4 |
12.3Highest |
9.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.