Compare towns
Raymond vs Chester vs Epping vs Candia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Raymond has the most affordable homes ($370k median).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($552k median).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Candia has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
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 | Raymond | Chester | Epping | Candia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,900Highest |
5,300 |
7,430 |
4,134Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±3.8Lowest about the NH average |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
48.3±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Candia and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Chester and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Candia and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
27.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
5.7%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Candia and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $104,597±$10k 6% above NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$119,737±$37k 21% above NH |
| Chester and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $370,400±$17kLowest 8% below NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$415,600±$46k 3% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,376±$196 8% below NH |
— | $1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,213±$554Lowest 19% below NH |
| Epping and Raymond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,146 8% below NH |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$6,100Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.1%±11.9 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 6.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
91.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1989 10 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
34 min 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Chester 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 | #96 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH | #41 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Raymond School District | Chester School District | Epping School District | Candia School District |
| High school in town | Raymond High School | None in town | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
— | 9.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.