Compare towns
Sandown vs Hooksett vs Chester vs Epping
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).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
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 | Hooksett | Chester | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,628 |
5,876 |
5,300Lowest |
7,430Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+27.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.7Lowest 6% below NH |
42.6±2 about the NH average |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
| Chester and Epping 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% |
14.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 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% |
20.7%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Hooksett 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% |
41.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.2%±3.7Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett 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 |
$101,053±$25kLowest about the NH average |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$104,220±$7k 5% 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 |
$348,100±$32kLowest 14% below NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% 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 |
$1,811±$283 21% above NH |
— | $1,742±$576Lowest 17% above NH |
| Sandown and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,801Highest 32% above NH |
$4,960Lowest 26% below NH |
$8,464 27% above NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.1%±48.3 NH: 48.2% |
46%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5% NH: 72.8% |
72.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Lowest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1989 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above NH |
29 minLowest 9% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | — | Chester School District | Epping School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Epping High School |
| 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.