What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Barnstead	Chester
People
Population	4,994Lowest	5,300Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average	47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH
	Chester and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±5Highest NH: 18.2%	19.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Barnstead and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1%	17.4%±4Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Barnstead and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%	41.1%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6%	4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Barnstead and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH	$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH	$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,395±$75 6% below NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,003Lowest 10% below NH	$8,464Highest 27% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.6%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2%	19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Barnstead and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%	4%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	97.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH	1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 16% above NH	35 minHighest 31% above NH
Work from home	13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8%	16.4%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8%
	Chester and Barnstead 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	#111 of 120 in NH	#90 of 120 in NH
School district	Barnstead School District	Chester School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.