Compare towns
Chester vs Windham vs Gilmanton
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 the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Gilmanton has the most affordable homes ($364k 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 | Windham | Gilmanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300 |
16,038Highest |
4,026Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
45±4.4 4% above NH |
| Chester and Gilmanton 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.5%±6.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Chester and Gilmanton 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% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.2%±2.8 NH: 6% |
| Chester and Gilmanton 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 |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$117,088±$9kLowest 18% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$363,700±$42kLowest 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,125±$421Lowest 25% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464 27% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,235Lowest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
57.1%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Gilmanton and Windham 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
99.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991 12 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
31 minLowest 15% above NH |
33 min 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.3%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Windham and Chester 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #25 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Windham School District | Gilmanton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.