Compare towns
Chester vs Dover vs Eliot vs Newton
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 the most kids (19.6% under 18).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
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 | Chester | Dover | Eliot | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,300 |
33,364Highest |
7,146 |
4,836Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8 21% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
47.8±5.7 23% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Chester and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Newton 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. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$138,487±$29k 72% above U.S. |
| Chester and Newton 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. |
$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$459,500±$18k 38% above U.S. |
| Chester and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,607±$100Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,683±$96 19% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Newton 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. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$8,124 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±41.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newton and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover 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 | #90 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #19 of 133 in ME | #70 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Dover School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.