Compare towns
Henniker vs Chester vs Epping vs Weare
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($552k median).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Weare has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Henniker is a college town. 27% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Henniker | Chester | Epping | Weare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,197 |
5,300Lowest |
7,430 |
9,170Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1% NH: +4.6% |
+3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 31.1±6.1Lowest 28% below NH |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
45.6±4 5% above NH |
| Chester and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±6 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27%±6.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,206±$21kLowest 4% below NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$118,271±$17k 19% above NH |
| Chester and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,700±$49kLowest 11% below NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$396,300±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
— | $1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,541±$214 3% above NH |
| Epping and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,877Highest 33% above NH |
$8,464 27% above NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±22.6 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1989 10 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below NH |
35 min 31% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Weare 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 | #56 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH | #84 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Henniker School District | Chester School District | Epping School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Epping High School | John Stark Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.3Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| 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.