Compare towns
Weare vs Chester vs Goffstown 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
Weare has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($552k median).
Goffstown has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Chester | Goffstown | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,170 |
5,300Lowest |
18,513Highest |
7,430 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.2% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4 5% above NH |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
41.3±3.1Lowest 5% below NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
| 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%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
16%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
19%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2% NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,271±$17k 19% above NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$113,958±$12k 15% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
| 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 about the NH average |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$377,400±$20kLowest 6% below NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$214 3% above NH |
— | $1,231±$161Lowest 17% below NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
| Epping and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$6,941 4% above NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
58.1%±20 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| 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 NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
6.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1989 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
35 min 31% above NH |
28 minLowest 4% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #90 of 120 in NH | #35 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Chester School District | Goffstown School District | Epping School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | None in town | Goffstown High School | Epping High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | 12.6Highest |
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.