Compare towns
Barnstead vs Chester 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
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Chester has the highest household income ($142k).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
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 | Barnstead | Chester | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
5,300 |
7,430Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
| Chester and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
— | $1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
| Epping and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1989 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 16% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Chester School District | Epping School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Epping High School |
| 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.