Compare towns
Newton vs Epping vs Dunbarton vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Dunbarton has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($552k median).
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 | Newton | Epping | Dunbarton | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,836 |
7,430Highest |
3,097Lowest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.8±5.7 10% above NH |
45.1±3.5Lowest 4% above NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Dunbarton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Epping and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $138,487±$29k 40% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
| Chester and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $459,500±$18k 14% above NH |
$436,900±$35kLowest 9% above NH |
$484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
| Chester and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$96 13% above NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
— |
| Epping and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,124 22% above NH |
$6,936Lowest 4% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±41.8 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1989 10 yrs newer than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 13% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Newton 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 | #70 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Epping School District | Dunbarton School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | 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.