Compare towns
Chester vs Epping vs Newfields 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 oldest population (median age 47.2).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Newfields | Weare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,300 |
7,430 |
2,023Lowest |
9,170Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
44.1±1.8Lowest about the NH average |
45.6±4 5% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Chester 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% |
13.6%±0.9 NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±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% NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Newfields 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±$19k 44% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$118,271±$17k 19% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,742±$576 17% above NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,541±$214Lowest 3% above NH |
| Newfields and Epping 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 |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 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% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1989 10 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1986Lowest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Newfields 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 | — | #84 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Epping School District | Newfields School District | 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 |
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.