Compare towns
Chester vs Exeter vs Gilmanton
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).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Gilmanton has the most affordable homes ($364k 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 | Exeter | Gilmanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300 |
16,151Highest |
4,026Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
45±4.4Lowest 4% above NH |
| Chester and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.5%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Chester and Gilmanton 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Chester 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 |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$117,088±$9k 18% above NH |
| Chester and Gilmanton 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 |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$363,700±$42kLowest 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,125±$421Lowest 25% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464 27% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,235Lowest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
57.1%±100 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
99.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
33 min 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.3%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #25 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Gilmanton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 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.