Compare towns
Andover vs Epping vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most affordable homes ($367k median).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Chester has the highest household income ($142k).
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 | Andover | Epping | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,135Lowest |
7,430Highest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46±11.6 6% above NH |
45.1±3.5Lowest 4% above NH |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
| Chester and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Chester and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.1%±7.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Andover and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Epping and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,514±$27kLowest 11% below NH |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $366,500±$44kLowest 9% below NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,211±$190Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
— |
| Epping and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,962Lowest 11% below NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1989 10 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above NH |
32 minLowest 21% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Chester 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 | — | #77 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Andover School District | Epping School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.