Compare towns
Chester vs Gilmanton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Gilmanton has the most affordable homes ($364k median).
Newfields has the most people working from home (25.5%).
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 | Gilmanton | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Highest |
4,026 |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
45±4.4 4% above NH |
44.1±1.8Lowest about the NH average |
| Chester and Gilmanton 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% |
17.5%±6.4Lowest 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%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Chester and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Newfields 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±$19k 44% above NH |
$117,088±$9kLowest 18% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
$363,700±$42kLowest 10% below NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,125±$421Lowest 25% below NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464 27% above NH |
$6,235Lowest 6% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.1%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Gilmanton and Newfields 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% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7% NH: 72.8% |
99.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
33 min 23% above NH |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
8.3%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #90 of 120 in NH | #25 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Chester School District | Gilmanton School District | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | None 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.