Compare towns
Chester vs Exeter vs Newfields
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 kids (19.6% under 18).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300 |
16,151Highest |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
44.1±1.8Lowest about the NH average |
| 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% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Chester and Newfields 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,856±$223Lowest 24% above NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464Lowest 27% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Newfields and Exeter 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 | — |
| School district | Chester School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| 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.