Compare towns
Chester vs Nelson vs Newton
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%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Newton has the oldest population (median age 47.8).
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 | Nelson | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Highest |
648Lowest |
4,836 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
47.8±5.7Highest 10% above NH |
| Newton 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Chester 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% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
16%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Newton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$138,487±$29k 40% above NH |
| Chester and Newton 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 |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
$459,500±$18k 14% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,683±$96Highest 13% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$8,124 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
62%±41.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Newton and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
90.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #90 of 120 in NH | — | #70 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Nelson School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | None 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.