What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chester has the most expensive homes ($552k median).

Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k 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	Chester	Barnstead
People
Population	5,300Highest	4,994Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6%	+7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH	42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average
	Chester and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2%	21%±5Highest 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+	17.4%±4Lowest NH: 20.1%	20.6%±4.8Highest 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+	41.1%Highest NH: 40.6%	30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%	5.9%±2.9Highest 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	$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH	$111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH	$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,395±$75 6% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,464Highest 27% above NH	$6,003Lowest 10% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2%	47.6%±50.9Highest 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	4%Highest NH: 7.2%	3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	97.7%Highest NH: 72.8%	93.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH	1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 31% above NH	31 minLowest 16% above NH
Work from home	16.4%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8%	13%±4.5Lowest 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	#90 of 120 in NH	#111 of 120 in NH
School district	Chester School District	Barnstead 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.