Compare towns
Barrington vs Chester vs Newton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barrington has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($552k median).
Newton has the oldest population (median age 47.8).
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 | Barrington | Chester | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,489Highest |
5,300 |
4,836Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
47.8±5.7Highest 10% above NH |
| Newton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
16%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Chester and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
| Barrington and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,323±$14kLowest 11% above NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$138,487±$29k 40% above NH |
| Chester and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $399,100±$30kLowest about the NH average |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$459,500±$18k 14% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
— | $1,683±$96Lowest 13% above NH |
| Barrington and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,121Lowest 7% above NH |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$8,124 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62%±41.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Barrington and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 13% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Barrington and Newton 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 | #65 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH | #70 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | Chester School District | Sanborn Regional 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.