Compare towns
Chester vs Deering vs Epping vs Dunbarton
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 highest household income ($142k).
Deering has the most affordable homes ($310k median).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Dunbarton has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
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 | Deering | Epping | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,300 |
1,938Lowest |
7,430Highest |
3,097 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% NH: +4.6% |
-0.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
48.8±5.7Highest 13% above NH |
45.1±3.5Lowest 4% above NH |
48±3.7 11% above NH |
| Deering and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Dunbarton and Chester 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% |
23.9%±1.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Deering 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 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 | $142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$101,250±$16kLowest about the NH average |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
| Chester and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$309,900±$27kLowest 23% below NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
| Chester and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,306±$116 12% below NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
| Epping and Deering 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 |
$6,223Lowest 7% below NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
23.9%±27.6 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 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 | 4% NH: 7.2% |
14.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.7% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1989 10 yrs newer than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above NH |
40 minHighest 49% above NH |
32 minLowest 21% above NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
10%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4 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 | #90 of 120 in NH | — | #77 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | — | Epping School District | Dunbarton 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 | 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.