Compare towns
Chester vs Epsom vs Hampton Falls
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Epsom has the most affordable homes ($338k median).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
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 | Epsom | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Highest |
4,939 |
2,328Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
47.1±3.4Lowest 9% above NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
| Hampton Falls 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% |
18.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Chester and Hampton Falls 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% |
20.7%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Falls and Epsom 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% |
40.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
5.2%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Epsom 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±$19k 44% above NH |
$97,941±$13kLowest about the NH average |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Chester 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 |
$338,400±$19kLowest 16% below NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,212±$437Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Epsom 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 |
$6,210Lowest 7% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
71.2%±19.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.6% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
31 minLowest 15% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Falls and Chester 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 | #69 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Chester School District | Epsom School District | Hampton Falls School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.