Compare towns

Epsom vs Athol vs Chichester

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Epsom has the oldest population (median age 47.1).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Chichester has the most people working from home (19%).

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.

MeasureEpsomAtholChichester
People
Population
4,939
12,011Highest
2,745Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.1±3.4Highest
21% above U.S.
41.3±1.9Lowest
6% above U.S.
43±3.3
11% above U.S.
Epsom and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.2%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.8%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.3%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
Athol and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.7%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.3%±2.3
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Epsom and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
20.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Epsom and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$97,941±$13k
21% above U.S.
$69,316±$5kLowest
14% below U.S.
$109,297±$13kHighest
35% above U.S.
Chichester and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$338,400±$19k
about the U.S. average
$268,100±$13kLowest
19% below U.S.
$409,300±$26kHighest
23% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,212±$437
14% below U.S.
$1,150±$182Lowest
19% below U.S.
$2,055±$275Highest
45% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,210
99% above U.S.
$3,403Lowest
9% above U.S.
$7,189Highest
130% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
71.2%±19.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.5%±17.2
U.S.: 51.1%
55.6%±34.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Epsom and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1953Lowest
27 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
30 min
15% above U.S.
Work from home
13.1%±4.3
U.S.: 15.1%
10.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Chichester and Epsom 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 #69 of 120 in NH #256 of 282 in MA #75 of 120 in NH
School district Epsom School District Athol-Royalston Chichester School District
High school in town None in town Athol High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.6
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.