Compare towns
Chester vs Epping vs Epsom vs Gilford
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).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Epsom has the most affordable homes ($338k median).
Gilford has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Epping | Epsom | Gilford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,300 |
7,430 |
4,939Lowest |
7,830Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
45.1±3.5Lowest 4% above NH |
47.1±3.4 9% above NH |
48.2±3.9Highest 11% above NH |
| Gilford 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% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Gilford 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% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Gilford 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% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.6% NH: 40.6% |
45.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
5.2%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Epsom 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±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$97,941±$13kLowest about the NH average |
$116,635±$11k 18% above NH |
| Chester and Gilford 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 |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$338,400±$19kLowest 16% below NH |
$456,500±$56k 13% above NH |
| Chester and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,212±$437 19% below NH |
$1,150±$747Lowest 23% below NH |
| Epping 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 |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$6,210 7% below NH |
$4,868Lowest 27% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9 NH: 48.2% |
71.2%±19.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±8.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Epsom and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1989 10 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Gilford 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 | #69 of 120 in NH | #45 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Epping School District | Epsom School District | Gilford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town | Gilford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
— | 11.5Highest |
| 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.