Compare towns
Chester vs Epping vs Pelham
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).
Pelham has the most kids (22% 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 | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Lowest |
7,430 |
14,449Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
| Chester and Epping 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% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham 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% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest 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% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Pelham 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 |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
| Chester and Pelham 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 |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham 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 |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
| Epping and Pelham 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 |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Pelham 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% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1989 10 yrs newer than NH |
1987Lowest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
30 minLowest 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Pelham 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 | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Epping School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
10.4Highest |
| 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.