Compare towns
Sandown vs Exeter vs Epping 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
Sandown has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Exeter has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
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 | Sandown | Exeter | Epping | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,628 |
16,151Highest |
7,430 |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.7Lowest 6% below NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
| Chester and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Sandown and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.2%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $135,040±$25k 36% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
| Chester and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $483,400±$44k 20% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$436,900±$35kLowest 9% above NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
| Chester and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$721Highest 27% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,742±$576Lowest 17% above NH |
— |
| Sandown and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,801 32% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,936Lowest 4% above NH |
$8,464 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.1%±48.3 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1989 10 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown and Epping 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 | #71 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Epping School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
9.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.