Compare towns
Chester vs Dunbarton vs Epping vs Mapleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the highest household income ($142k).
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Dunbarton | Epping | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,300 |
3,097 |
7,430Highest |
1,884Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8 21% above U.S. |
48±3.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 41.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping and Mapleton 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 76% above U.S. |
$124,348±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| 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 66% above U.S. |
$484,100±$33k 46% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Chester and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,166±$70 17% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
| Epping and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464Highest 171% above U.S. |
$8,233 164% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Chester School District | Dunbarton School District | Epping School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.