Compare towns
Chester vs Atkinson vs Dunbarton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Atkinson has the most people working from home (21.1%).
Dunbarton has the most affordable homes ($484k 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 | Chester | Atkinson | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300 |
7,267Highest |
3,097Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Lowest 9% above NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
48±3.7 11% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Dunbarton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Atkinson and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% NH: 40.6% |
42.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
5.8%±4Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest 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 | $142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
$146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
$124,348±$21kLowest 26% 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 | $552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
$484,100±$33kLowest 20% above NH |
| 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 |
$1,166±$70Highest 22% below NH |
| Dunbarton and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$6,918Lowest 4% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
28 minLowest 6% above NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Atkinson and Chester 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 | #90 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.