Compare towns
Weare vs Berwick 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
Berwick has the most affordable homes ($323k median).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Weare | Berwick | Epping | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,170Highest |
1,998Lowest |
7,430 |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±4 17% above U.S. |
42.6±3.6Lowest 10% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
47.2±3.8Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Chester and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±12.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest 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 | $118,271±$17k 46% above U.S. |
$81,406±$39kLowest about the U.S. average |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$142,212±$19kHighest 76% above U.S. |
| Chester and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,300±$26k 19% above U.S. |
$323,300±$36kLowest about the U.S. average |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$552,300±$42kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$214 9% above U.S. |
$1,041±$901Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
— |
| Epping and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,272 101% above U.S. |
$3,806Lowest 22% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$8,464Highest 171% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.9%±45.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
19%±72.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
73%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 22% above U.S. |
35 min 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Weare 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 | #84 of 120 in NH | #101 of 133 in ME | #77 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | — | Epping School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | — | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
— | 9.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.