Compare towns
Chester vs Hooksett vs Newfields 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 the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Hooksett has the most renters (19.4% rent).
Newfields has the most people working from home (25.5%).
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 | Hooksett | Newfields | Gilmanton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,300 |
15,057Highest |
2,023Lowest |
4,026 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
45±4.4 4% above NH |
| 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% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
17.5%±6.4 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% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Chester and Hooksett 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% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Newfields 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 |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$117,088±$9kLowest 18% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$363,700±$42kLowest 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,125±$421Lowest 25% below NH |
| Newfields and Hooksett 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 |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,235Lowest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
57.1%±100Highest 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% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3% NH: 72.8% |
99.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
33 min 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.3%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #90 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | — | #25 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Hooksett School District | Newfields School District | Gilmanton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.