Compare towns
Chesterfield vs Thornton vs Epsom
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 most kids (21.5% under 18).
Thornton has the most people working from home (29.8%).
Epsom has the most affordable homes ($338k 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 | Chesterfield | Thornton | Epsom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,622 |
2,799Lowest |
4,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.8±8.7Lowest 8% above NH |
51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
47.1±3.4 9% above NH |
| Thornton and Epsom 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% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Chesterfield and Epsom 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% |
19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Chesterfield and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.2% NH: 40.6% |
46.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9 NH: 6% |
5.2%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Epsom and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,370±$40kHighest 3% above NH |
$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH |
$97,941±$13k about the NH average |
| Chesterfield and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $373,500±$33kHighest 7% below NH |
$351,900±$20k 13% below NH |
$338,400±$19kLowest 16% below NH |
| Chesterfield and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,324±$1kHighest 11% below NH |
$1,270±$428 15% below NH |
$1,212±$437Lowest 19% below NH |
| Chesterfield and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,344Highest 5% below NH |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
$6,210 7% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
71.2%±19.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Chesterfield and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% NH: 7.2% |
9.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton 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 | #18 of 120 in NH | #69 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chesterfield School District | Thornton School District | Epsom School District |
| High school in town | None 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.