Compare towns
Chester vs Sandown vs Epping
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).
Sandown has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Sandown | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Lowest |
6,628 |
7,430Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
40.8±3.7Lowest 6% below NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above 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% |
22.6%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Sandown 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% |
14.2%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest 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% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$135,040±$25k 36% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
| Chester and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$483,400±$44k 20% above NH |
$436,900±$35kLowest 9% above NH |
| Chester and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,893±$721Highest 27% above NH |
$1,742±$576Lowest 17% above NH |
| Sandown 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 |
$8,801Highest 32% above NH |
$6,936Lowest 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64.1%±48.3 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1986Lowest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1989 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
32 minLowest 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown 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 | #71 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Epping School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Epping High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.3 |
| 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.