Compare towns
Barnstead vs Chester vs Fremont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
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).
Fremont has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Barnstead | Chester | Fremont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994 |
5,300Highest |
4,831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
44.3±3.4 about the NH average |
| Chester and Fremont 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% |
20.4%±5.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Fremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.6%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Fremont and Barnstead 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% |
32.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$120,781±$18k 22% above NH |
| Chester and Fremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$416,900±$31k 4% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
— | $2,668±$795Highest 79% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$6,954 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
94.2%±5.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Fremont and Barnstead 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% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 16% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
33 min 24% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±4.2Lowest 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 | #91 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Chester School District | Fremont School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.