Compare towns
Chester vs Atkinson 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
Chester has the most homeowners (97.7%).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
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 | Chester | Atkinson | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Lowest |
7,267 |
7,430Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
45.1±3.5Lowest 4% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 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+ | 17.4%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Atkinson and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% NH: 40.6% |
42.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.8%±4Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
| Atkinson and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
$146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
| Atkinson and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
$436,900±$35kLowest 9% above NH |
| Atkinson and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
| Epping and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$6,918Lowest 4% above NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1989 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
28 minLowest 6% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Atkinson 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 | #90 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Timberlane Regional 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.