Compare towns
Chester vs Dunbarton vs Epping vs Weare
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).
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Weare has the most kids (22.4% 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 | Dunbarton | Epping | Weare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,300 |
3,097Lowest |
7,430 |
9,170Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
45.1±3.5Lowest 4% above NH |
45.6±4 5% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Dunbarton 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% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4 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 |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$118,271±$17k 19% 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 |
$484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| 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±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,541±$214 3% above NH |
| Epping and Weare 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 |
$8,233 23% above NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
1989 10 yrs newer than NH |
1986Lowest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
32 minLowest 21% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Weare 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 | #84 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Dunbarton School District | Epping School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Epping High School | John Stark Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.3Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| 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.