Compare towns
Chesterfield vs Epping vs Epsom vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chesterfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Epsom has the most affordable homes ($338k median).
Strafford has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Chesterfield | Epping | Epsom | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,622Lowest |
7,430Highest |
4,939 |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.9% NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.8±8.7 8% above NH |
45.1±3.5Lowest 4% above NH |
47.1±3.4Highest 9% above NH |
46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
| Epsom and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Chesterfield and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.8%±7.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Chesterfield and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.6% NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
5.2%±2.4 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Strafford and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,370±$40k 3% above NH |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$97,941±$13kLowest about the NH average |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
| Strafford and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $373,500±$33k 7% below NH |
$436,900±$35kHighest 9% above NH |
$338,400±$19kLowest 16% below NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| Epping and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,324±$1k 11% below NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,212±$437Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
| Epping and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,344 5% below NH |
$6,936Highest 4% above NH |
$6,210 7% below NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
71.2%±19.7 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Chesterfield and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
87.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Chesterfield 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 | #52 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH | #69 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chesterfield School District | Epping School District | Epsom School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— | — |
| 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.