Compare towns
Chester vs Dunbarton vs Farmington
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 most kids (19.8% under 18).
Farmington has the most affordable homes ($289k 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.
| Measure | Chester | Dunbarton | Farmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300 |
3,097Lowest |
6,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
-0.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Lowest 9% above NH |
48±3.7 11% above NH |
49.1±7.1Highest 13% above NH |
| Farmington and Dunbarton 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% |
16.1%±4.5Lowest 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%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.5%±3.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Dunbarton and Farmington 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% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
16.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$66,943±$4kLowest 32% below 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 |
$289,200±$47kLowest 28% below NH |
| Chester and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,166±$70Highest 22% below NH |
$1,096±$110Lowest 26% below NH |
| Dunbarton and Farmington 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 |
$8,233 23% above NH |
$4,723Lowest 29% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±16 NH: 48.2% |
| Dunbarton and Farmington 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% |
11.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
77.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
29 minLowest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.5%±5.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Chester and Farmington 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 | #106 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Dunbarton School District | Farmington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Farmington Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 5.5 |
| 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.