Compare towns
Epsom vs Methuen 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 most affordable homes ($338k median).
Methuen has the most expensive homes ($500k 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.
| Measure | Epsom | Methuen | Chichester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,939 |
53,475Highest |
2,745Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±3.4Highest 21% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
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% |
21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Methuen 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% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epsom and Methuen 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% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Methuen and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,941±$13kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$109,297±$13k 35% above U.S. |
| Methuen and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $338,400±$19kLowest about the U.S. average |
$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$409,300±$26k 23% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,212±$437Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
$2,055±$275Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Chichester and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,210 99% above U.S. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$7,189Highest 130% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 71.2%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.6%±34.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epsom and Chichester 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% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest 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 | #236 of 282 in MA | #75 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epsom School District | Methuen | Chichester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Methuen High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| 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.