Compare towns

Dunbarton vs Chester 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

Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
Chester has the highest household income ($142k).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).

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.

MeasureDunbartonChesterEpping
People
Population
3,097Lowest
5,300
7,430Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+9.7%
NH: +4.6%
+11.1%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
48±3.7Highest
11% above NH
47.2±3.8
9% above NH
45.1±3.5Lowest
4% above NH
Dunbarton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.8%±3.8Highest
NH: 18.2%
19.6%±3.7
NH: 18.2%
18.7%±4.8Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Dunbarton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.4%±4.3
NH: 20.1%
17.4%±4Lowest
NH: 20.1%
22.6%±5.2Highest
NH: 20.1%
Epping and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.6%
NH: 40.6%
41.1%Highest
NH: 40.6%
37%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±2Lowest
NH: 6%
4.4%±2.1
NH: 6%
5.1%±3.3Highest
NH: 6%
Epping and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$124,348±$21k
26% above NH
$142,212±$19kHighest
44% above NH
$104,220±$7kLowest
5% above NH
Chester and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$484,100±$33k
20% above NH
$552,300±$42kHighest
37% above NH
$436,900±$35kLowest
9% above NH
Chester and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,166±$70Lowest
22% below NH
—
$1,742±$576Highest
17% above NH
Epping and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,233
23% above NH
$8,464Highest
27% above NH
$6,936Lowest
4% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.7%±60.7
NH: 48.2%
19%±72.7Lowest
NH: 48.2%
67.8%±25.9Highest
NH: 48.2%
Epping and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
4%
NH: 7.2%
4.7%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.1%
NH: 72.8%
97.7%Highest
NH: 72.8%
86.3%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1990
11 yrs newer than NH
1991Highest
12 yrs newer than NH
1989Lowest
10 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
25% above NH
35 minHighest
31% above NH
32 minLowest
21% above NH
Work from home
12.6%±5.4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
16.4%±5.1
NH: 16.8%
24%±6.9Highest
NH: 16.8%
Epping 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 #33 of 120 in NH #90 of 120 in NH #77 of 120 in NH
School district Dunbarton School District Chester 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.