Compare towns
Chester vs Derry vs Epsom
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Epsom has the most affordable homes ($338k 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 | Derry | Epsom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300 |
34,116Highest |
4,939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
47.1±3.4 9% above NH |
| Chester and Epsom 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% |
20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±3.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Epsom and Chester 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% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.2%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Derry and Epsom 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 |
$108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$97,941±$13kLowest about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$338,400±$19kLowest 16% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,547±$138Highest 4% above NH |
$1,212±$437Lowest 19% below NH |
| Derry and Epsom 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 |
$8,103 22% above NH |
$6,210Lowest 7% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
71.2%±19.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Epsom and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
31 minLowest 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Chester and Derry 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #69 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Epsom School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.9 |
— |
| 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.