Compare towns
Chester vs Henniker vs Dunbarton vs Gilford
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).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Gilford has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Henniker is a college town. 27% 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 | Henniker | Dunbarton | Gilford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,300 |
6,197 |
3,097Lowest |
7,830Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
+8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
31.1±6.1Lowest 28% below NH |
48±3.7 11% above NH |
48.2±3.9Highest 11% above NH |
| Gilford and Dunbarton 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% |
15.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Gilford and Dunbarton 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% |
16.5%±6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Gilford and Dunbarton 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% |
41.4% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
27%±6.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$95,206±$21kLowest 4% below NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$116,635±$11k 18% above NH |
| Chester and Dunbarton 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 |
$356,700±$49kLowest 11% below NH |
$484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
$456,500±$56k 13% above NH |
| Chester and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,166±$70Highest 22% below NH |
$1,150±$747 23% below NH |
| Dunbarton and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464 27% above NH |
$8,877Highest 33% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
$4,868Lowest 27% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.5%±22.6 NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±8.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Gilford 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% |
11.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
93.1% 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 |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Gilford 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 | #56 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH | #45 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Henniker School District | Dunbarton School District | Gilford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Gilford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.