Compare towns
Chester vs Warner vs Wilton
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%).
Warner has the most affordable homes ($353k median).
Wilton has the shortest commute (30 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 | Warner | Wilton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Highest |
2,959Lowest |
3,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
43.7±4Lowest about the NH average |
46.8±5.2 8% above NH |
| Chester and Wilton 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% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Chester and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±3.5 NH: 20.1% |
22%±6.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wilton and Warner 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% |
42.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.5%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Warner and Wilton 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 |
$94,022±$18kLowest 5% below NH |
$114,349±$21k 15% above NH |
| Chester and Wilton 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 |
$353,100±$22kLowest 12% below NH |
$381,500±$23k 5% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,219±$123Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,382±$70Highest 7% below NH |
| Wilton and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$7,650 15% above NH |
$7,612Lowest 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.7%±21.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
47.1%±39.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Warner and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
8.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
77% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
32 min 19% above NH |
30 minLowest 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.6%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Wilton and Warner 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 | — | #54 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Kearsarge Regional School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Wilton-Lyndeboro Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.1 |
| 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.