Compare towns
Epping vs Chester vs Dunbarton vs Hampstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Chester has the highest household income ($142k).
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
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 | Epping | Chester | Dunbarton | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,430 |
5,300 |
3,097Lowest |
9,102Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5Lowest 4% above NH |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
45.3±6.1 5% 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 | 18.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% 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 | $436,900±$35kLowest 9% above NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
| Chester and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
— | $1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
| Epping and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,936Lowest 4% above NH |
$8,464 27% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 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 | 4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989 10 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
1988Lowest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
30 minLowest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Hampstead 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epping School District | Chester School District | Dunbarton School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Epping High School | None in town | 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.