Compare towns
Raymond vs Sheldon vs Epping vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Raymond has the most renters (14.2% rent).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Chester has the highest household income ($142k).
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 | Sheldon | Epping | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,900Highest |
2,267Lowest |
7,430 |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±3.8 12% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
47.2±3.8Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Chester and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Raymond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping and Chester 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 30% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$142,212±$19kHighest 76% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $370,400±$17k 11% above U.S. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$552,300±$42kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,376±$196 about the U.S. average |
$1,286±$379Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
— |
| 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 97% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$8,464Highest 171% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.1%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
19%±72.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 6.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #77 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Raymond School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Epping School District | Chester 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 History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.