Compare towns
Chester vs Epping vs Hooksett vs Newton
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 most expensive homes ($552k median).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Newton has the oldest population (median age 47.8).
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 | Hooksett | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,300 |
7,430 |
15,057Highest |
4,836Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
47.8±5.7Highest 10% above NH |
| Newton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Chester and Epping 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% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
16%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Epping 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett 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±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$138,487±$29k 40% above NH |
| Chester and Newton 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 |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$459,500±$18k 14% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,661±$206Lowest 11% above NH |
$1,683±$96 13% above NH |
| Epping and Newton 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 |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,124 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
62%±41.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Newton 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% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1989 10 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 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 |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Newton 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #70 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Epping School District | Hooksett School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town | 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.