Compare towns
Chester vs Dunbarton vs South Hooksett
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 people working from home (16.4%).
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
South Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 35.2).
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 | South Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300 |
3,097Lowest |
5,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
+8.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
35.2±3.6Lowest 19% 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%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest 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% |
13.5%±2.6Lowest 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% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$124,348±$21kLowest 26% above NH |
$130,000±$15k 31% above NH |
| Chester and South Hooksett 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 |
$433,200±$40kLowest 8% 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 |
$1,471±$217Highest about the NH average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
$6,801Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25 NH: 48.2% |
| Dunbarton and South Hooksett 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% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Chester and Dunbarton 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 | Dunbarton School District | — |
| High school 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.