Compare towns
Bow vs Chester vs Dunbarton 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
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($552k median).
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Bow | Chester | Dunbarton | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
5,300 |
3,097Lowest |
7,430 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
| Bow and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
$436,900±$35kLowest 9% above NH |
| Chester and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
— | $1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
| Epping and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$8,464 27% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
$6,936Lowest 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% 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 |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
1989 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Bow 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Chester School District | Dunbarton School District | Epping School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | None in town | Epping High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | — | 9.3Lowest |
| 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.