Compare towns
Newton vs Hampton Falls vs Epsom 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).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Epsom has the most affordable homes ($338k median).
Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
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 | Hampton Falls | Epsom | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,836 |
2,328Lowest |
4,939 |
5,300Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.9% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.8±5.7 10% above NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
47.1±3.4Lowest 9% above NH |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
| Hampton Falls 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% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Chester and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Falls and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.6% NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.2%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Epsom 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 |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$97,941±$13kLowest about the NH average |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Chester 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 |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$338,400±$19kLowest 16% below NH |
$552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$96 13% above NH |
$1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
$1,212±$437Lowest 19% below NH |
— |
| Hampton Falls 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,210Lowest 7% below NH |
$8,464 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±41.8 NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
71.2%±19.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Epsom 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% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.6% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 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 |
31 min 15% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Falls 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 | — | #69 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Hampton Falls School District | Epsom School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.