Compare towns
Chester vs Ogunquit vs Hooksett vs Dunbarton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the highest household income ($142k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Dunbarton has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
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 | Ogunquit | Hooksett | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,300 |
1,379Lowest |
15,057Highest |
3,097 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8 21% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
48±3.7 23% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dunbarton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $142,212±$19kHighest 76% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$124,348±$21k 54% above U.S. |
| 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±$42k 66% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$484,100±$33k 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464Highest 171% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$8,233 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunbarton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #90 of 120 in NH | — | #30 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | — | Hooksett School District | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.