Compare towns
Epsom vs Salisbury vs Epping vs Chesterfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Epsom has the most affordable homes ($338k median).
Salisbury has the most homeowners (96.9%).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Chesterfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Salisbury | Epping | Chesterfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,939 |
1,609Lowest |
7,430Highest |
3,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.1±3.4 9% above NH |
51.5±4.5Highest 19% above NH |
45.1±3.5Lowest 4% above NH |
46.8±8.7 8% above NH |
| Salisbury and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.1%±9.6 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
21.5%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Chesterfield and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.9%±4 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
28.8%±7.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Chesterfield and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.6% NH: 40.6% |
37.3% NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
2%±1.1 NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
1.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Epsom and Epping 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 about the NH average |
$111,591±$17kHighest 13% above NH |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$102,370±$40k 3% above NH |
| Salisbury and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $338,400±$19kLowest 16% below NH |
$363,400±$47k 10% below NH |
$436,900±$35kHighest 9% above NH |
$373,500±$33k 7% below NH |
| Epping and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,212±$437Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,917±$632Highest 29% above NH |
$1,742±$576 17% above NH |
$1,324±$1k 11% below NH |
| Salisbury and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,210 7% below NH |
$5,859Lowest 12% below NH |
$6,936Highest 4% above NH |
$6,344 5% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 71.2%±19.7 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9 NH: 48.2% |
83.7%±100Highest 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 | 3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.1% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% NH: 72.8% |
96.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
83.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 15% above NH |
32 min 20% above NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.3%±10.6 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Salisbury 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 | — | #77 of 120 in NH | #52 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epsom School District | Merrimack Valley School District | Epping School District | Chesterfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Epping High School | 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.