Compare towns
Chester vs Townsend 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 most people working from home (16.4%).
Townsend has the most renters (18% rent).
Dunbarton has the shortest commute (34 min average).
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 | Townsend | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300 |
9,100Highest |
3,097Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8 21% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
48±3.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
| 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%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Dunbarton 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dunbarton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend 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 76% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kLowest 51% 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±$42kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$484,100±$33k 46% above U.S. |
| Chester and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464Highest 171% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$8,233 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunbarton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 33% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
34 minLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chester and Dunbarton 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | North Middlesex | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.