Compare towns
Chester vs Lee vs Newfields 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%).
Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Lee | Newfields | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,300Highest |
4,576 |
2,023Lowest |
3,097 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
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% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee 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% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee 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% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Lee 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 |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$124,348±$21kLowest 26% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
$480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464 27% above NH |
$9,661 45% 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% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Dunbarton 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% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.8% NH: 72.8% |
95.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1987Lowest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Newfields 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | — | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Newfields School District | Dunbarton 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 | 10 photos → | 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.