Epsom offers a rural landscape outside of Concord
Epsom sits in southern New Hampshire, located about 11 miles east of Concord. The sparse landscape is dotted with homes, many with acreage and a nature-filled backdrop close to recreational landmarks like Northwood Lake and Epsom Town Forest. “Epsom is more rural,” says Anthony Piacenza, an associate broker with Re/Max. “You have your grocery stores, pharmacy and all of that. The good thing about it is that everything’s within a few miles, so it has got a lot of good things going for it. There is more building and new construction happening, with people coming up from farther south in New Hampshire. It’s up-and-coming.” Locals can make their way to Route 202, which runs through the center of Epsom, to browse local shops or to grab a bite or drink.
Homes situated on acreage
Much of the housing in Epsom is concentrated on the west side and in the northeastern corner of the community, mostly around routes 202 and 28. Single-family homes can cost as little as $300,000, but most often range between $550,000 and $750,000. Manufactured homes are commonly found as well and usually cost between $130,000 and $230,000. “It’s a pretty mixed bag,” Piacenza says. “There are a lot of farms and definitely colonial-style homes there. Most have some kind of acreage, so you’re going to get a little bit more space, and people love that.” Epsom has a CAP Index Crime Score of 1 out of 10, the lowest possible rating and well below the national average of 4.
Recreation on dry land and at Northwood Lake
To the east, the Epsom Town Forest sprawls across nearly 500 acres. Within the forest, hikers and bikers can take to the trails, while wintertime brings snowmobilers and skiers. The Suncook River winds through much of western Epsom and is popular with kayakers and canoers, while one of its tributaries feeds into Bixby Pond along Route 202. A network of small brooks snakes throughout the area. Webster Park sits in southwestern Epsom and offers open green space. Elite Sports Academy can be found just off Route 202 and has soccer and flag football programs. In southern Epsom, the Fort Mountain Hiking Area has a trail running for more than 2 miles.
The waters of Northwood Lake span over 650 acres, while the nearby Pleasant Lake is almost 500 acres in size. “The difference between Northwood and Pleasant Lake is that you’re not allowed motorcraft at Pleasant,” Piacenza says. “That’s more of a quieter, paddling situation, whereas at Northwood you can Jet Ski and do it all. It’s busy during the warmer months.” Northwood Lake offers a marina, public beaches and winter skating and fishing, while Pleasant Lake accommodates kayaks and canoes.
Meals, happy hours and live entertainment in Epsom
A few restaurants operate along Route 202 and nearby through central Epsom. Country Cook’n at the Circle Restaurant offers a family atmosphere with classic breakfast, lunch and dinner dishes. Locals can stop at Hill Top Pizzeria to watch a game over hand-tossed pizzas. Blasty Bough Brewing Co. brews its own beers in eastern Epsom. hosting the BlastyTrad concert series. Locals also head near Northwood Lake, around 2 miles east of Epsom, for more eateries like the Original Johnson’s Dairy Bar at Northwoods Brewing Co. “Johnson’s is one of the best burgers, hot dogs and ice cream places,” Piacenza says. “It’s famous for its ice cream and fried seafood.” A Walmart and Aldi are about 8 miles west down Route 202 for grocery shopping.
Students can attend Epsom Central School and Pembroke Academy
The area's Epsom Central School teaches kindergarten through eighth grade and receives a B from Niche. It offers a variety of music programs, including choir and concert band. After graduating from Epsom Central, students can attend high school at Pembroke Academy, about 8 miles southwest. The school gets a C from Niche.
Community celebrations at Old Home Weekend
Once a year, from Friday through Sunday, Epsom holds its version of an Old Home Weekend, an event popular in the New England region. “A lot of towns here do Old Home Days, like a carnival or mini fair,” Piacenza says. “That’s for just one weekend, but it has a bunch of local vendors.” Epsom’s version of the event spans Friday through Sunday in late summer and features live music, games, a parade, a footrace and more.
Routes 202 and 28 connect to Interstate 93 and Boston
Route 202 runs east-west through the center of Epsom, hooking up with Interstate 93 at Concord, about 11 miles to the west. Route 28, which travels north-south, also connects to Interstate 93, which is the primary route to Boston, around 75 miles to the south. Concord Hospital is about 13 miles from Epsom.
