Compare towns
Chester vs Keene 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 the highest household income ($142k).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
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 | Keene | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300 |
22,939Highest |
3,097Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% 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% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest 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% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Dunbarton and Keene 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% |
44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% 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 |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$484,100±$33k 20% 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 | — | $1,342±$68Highest 10% below NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$8,233 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Dunbarton and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Chester and Keene 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Keene School District | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| 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.