Compare towns
Chester vs Epsom vs Raymond
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 expensive homes ($552k median).
Epsom has the youngest population (median age 47.1).
Raymond has grown the fastest since 2010 (+30.9%).
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 | Raymond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Highest |
4,939 |
3,645Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+30.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
47.1±3.4Lowest 9% above NH |
47.7±13.3Highest 10% above NH |
| Raymond 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%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
16.6%±7.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Chester and Epsom 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% |
25.2%±6.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Raymond 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.6% NH: 40.6% |
24.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.2%±2.4 NH: 6% |
6.9%±4.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Raymond and Epsom 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 |
$97,941±$13k about the NH average |
$73,066±$8kLowest 26% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$338,400±$19k 16% below NH |
$314,900±$34kLowest 22% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,212±$437Highest 19% below NH |
$994±$450Lowest 33% below NH |
| Epsom and Raymond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$6,210 7% below NH |
$5,113Lowest 23% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
71.2%±19.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±13.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.6% NH: 72.8% |
75%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
31 minLowest 14% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Chester and Epsom 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 | #96 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Epsom School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.