Compare towns
Chester vs Epping vs Lyme
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 homeowners (97.7%).
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 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 | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300 |
7,430Highest |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
45.1±3.5Lowest 4% above NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Lyme 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%±4.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Chester and Lyme 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%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Epping 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% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest 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 |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
| Chester and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
$436,900±$35kLowest 9% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
| Lyme and Chester 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 |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
| Epping and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464 27% above NH |
$6,936Lowest 4% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1989 10 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Epping 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 | — |
| School district | Chester School District | Epping School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— |
| 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.