Compare towns
Weare vs Lyme 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
Weare has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Weare | Lyme | Epping | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,170Highest |
1,710Lowest |
7,430 |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4 5% above NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
45.1±3.5Lowest 4% above NH |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
| Lyme and Chester 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% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 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% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Epping 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% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| 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 19% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
| Chester and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
| Lyme and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$214 3% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$8,464 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest 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% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%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 |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1989 10 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
35 min 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme 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 | #84 of 120 in NH | — | #77 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Lyme School District | Epping School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | None in town | 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 |
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.