Compare towns
Weare vs Windham 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
Weare has the most affordable homes ($396k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Chester has the most homeowners (97.7%).
Epping has the most renters (13.7% rent).
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 | Windham | Chester | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,170 |
16,038Highest |
5,300Lowest |
7,430 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4 5% above NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above 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%±4 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Weare 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% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Highest 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 |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$214Lowest 3% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
— | $1,742±$576 17% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,464 27% above NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest 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% |
2% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Lowest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1991 12 yrs newer than NH |
1989 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
31 minLowest 15% above NH |
35 min 31% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Lowest 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Windham School District | Chester School District | Epping School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | Windham High School | None in town | Epping High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
12.8Highest |
— | 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.