Compare towns
Chester vs Dunbarton vs Hooksett vs Sandown
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 most expensive homes ($552k median).
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Sandown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
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 | Hooksett | Sandown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,300 |
3,097Lowest |
15,057Highest |
6,628 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
40.8±3.7Lowest 6% below 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%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Sandown 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% |
20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
14.2%±4Lowest 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% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Sandown 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 |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
$135,040±$25k 36% above NH |
| Chester and Sandown 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 |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$483,400±$44k 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 | — | $1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,893±$721Highest 27% above NH |
| Sandown and Hooksett 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 |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,801Highest 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
64.1%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Sandown and Dunbarton 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% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1986Lowest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
33 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #71 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Dunbarton School District | Hooksett School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.