Compare towns
Chatham vs Epping vs Stow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chatham has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Epping has the highest household income ($104k).
Stow has the oldest population (median age 57).
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 | Chatham | Epping | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 430Lowest |
7,430Highest |
535 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.3±8.6 24% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
57±10.5Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Stow and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Chatham and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±10 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
37.9%±17.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stow and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chatham and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,042±$19k 18% below U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$42,204±$22kLowest 48% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,900±$42k 9% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$326,400±$42kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Epping and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,690 18% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$3,304Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1998Highest 18 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 35% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 22% above U.S. |
51 minHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.3%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±12 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Stow 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 | — |
| School district | — | Epping School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Epping High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.