Compare towns
Chester vs Newfields vs South Hooksett
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%).
Newfields has the most people working from home (25.5%).
South Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($433k 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 | Newfields | South Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300 |
2,023Lowest |
5,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
| Chester and Newfields 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% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest 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% |
13.6%±0.9 NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Chester and Newfields 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% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
| South 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 |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$130,000±$15kLowest 31% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$433,200±$40kLowest 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,471±$217Lowest about the NH average |
| Newfields and South 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,801Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25 NH: 48.2% |
| Newfields and South Hooksett 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.3% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #90 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Chester School District | Newfields School District | — |
| High school 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.