Compare towns
Atkinson vs Chester vs Weare
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Weare has the most affordable homes ($396k 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 | Atkinson | Chester | Weare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267 |
5,300Lowest |
9,170Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
45.6±4Lowest 5% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±4Highest 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+ | 27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Atkinson and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
$118,271±$17kLowest 19% above NH |
| Atkinson and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
$552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
$396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Atkinson and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
— | $1,541±$214Highest 3% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918 4% above NH |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.8% NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above NH |
35 min 31% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Weare and Atkinson 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 | #32 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH | #84 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Chester School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | John Stark Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.