Compare towns
Chester vs Epping vs Mapleton vs Weare
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 most expensive homes ($552k median).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Epping | Mapleton | Weare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,300 |
7,430 |
1,884Lowest |
9,170Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 21% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.6±4 17% above U.S. |
| Chester and Weare 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% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Weare and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.4Lowest 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. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$118,271±$17k 46% above U.S. |
| Chester and Weare 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. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$396,300±$26k 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,541±$214 9% above U.S. |
| 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 171% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,272 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.2%±24.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Weare 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 33% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | — | #84 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Epping School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town | 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 |
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.