Compare towns
Chester vs Dunbarton vs Durham vs Strafford
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).
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Dunbarton | Durham | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,300 |
3,097Lowest |
15,080Highest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
46.3±2.1 7% 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%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 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%±4 NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Dunbarton 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% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$122,105±$22kLowest 23% 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 |
$484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$427,900±$29kLowest 6% above NH |
| Chester and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
| Strafford and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464 27% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Durham 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Dunbarton School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.