Compare towns
Chester vs Hampton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Hampton has the most people working from home (21.7%).
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 | Hampton | Gilmanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300 |
16,426Highest |
4,026Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
45±4.4Lowest 4% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest 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% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.2%±2.8 NH: 6% |
| Chester and Gilmanton 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 |
$95,233±$9kLowest 4% below 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 |
$550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$363,700±$42kLowest 10% below NH |
| Chester and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,628±$94Highest 9% above NH |
$1,125±$421Lowest 25% below NH |
| Hampton and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$6,813 about the NH average |
$6,235Lowest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
57.1%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Gilmanton and Hampton 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% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7% NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
99.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
33 min 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.3%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #25 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Gilmanton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1 |
— |
| 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.