Compare towns
Chester vs Barnard vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
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 | Barnard | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Highest |
1,211Lowest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 21% above U.S. |
42.4±6Lowest 9% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1 19% above U.S. |
| Chester and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnard and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford 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±$19kHighest 76% above U.S. |
$97,581±$19kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22k 51% above U.S. |
| Chester and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$402,600±$71kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,372±$80Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464Highest 171% above U.S. |
$6,038Lowest 94% above U.S. |
$6,086 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 33% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barnard 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 | — | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Strafford 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 |
U.S. 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.