Compare towns
Chester vs Bennington 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 the highest household income ($142k).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Dunbarton has the shortest commute (34 min average).
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 | Bennington | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Highest |
1,588Lowest |
3,097 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Chester 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% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Dunbarton 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% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
| Chester and Dunbarton 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 |
$83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
| Chester and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
$484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
| Chester and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,292±$150Highest 13% below NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
| Bennington and Dunbarton 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 |
$5,944Lowest 11% below NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6 NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Dunbarton and Bennington 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% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
34 minLowest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Chester and Bennington 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 | — | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Dunbarton 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.