Compare towns
Chester vs Hanover vs Dunbarton
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%).
Hanover has the most people working from home (26.7%).
Dunbarton has the most affordable homes ($484k median).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300 |
8,479Highest |
3,097Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above 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% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8Highest 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%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Dunbarton and Hanover 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% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
$153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
$124,348±$21kLowest 26% above NH |
| Hanover and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$484,100±$33kLowest 20% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464 27% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,233Lowest 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover 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 | #1 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.