Compare towns

Deerfield vs Dunbarton vs Chester

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Deerfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Dunbarton has the shortest commute (34 min average).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($552k 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.

MeasureDeerfieldDunbartonChester
People
Population
4,932
3,097Lowest
5,300Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+13.4%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+9%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+9.7%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
42.8±4.2Lowest
about the NH average
48±3.7Highest
11% above NH
47.2±3.8
9% above NH
Dunbarton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.9%±4.1Highest
NH: 18.2%
19.8%±3.8
NH: 18.2%
19.6%±3.7Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Deerfield and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.5%±3.5
NH: 20.1%
20.4%±4.3Highest
NH: 20.1%
17.4%±4Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Dunbarton and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
47.3%Highest
NH: 40.6%
39.6%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
41.1%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.8Lowest
NH: 6%
3.8%±2
NH: 6%
4.4%±2.1Highest
NH: 6%
Chester and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$131,563±$10k
33% above NH
$124,348±$21kLowest
26% above NH
$142,212±$19kHighest
44% above NH
Chester and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$421,000±$33kLowest
5% above NH
$484,100±$33k
20% above NH
$552,300±$42kHighest
37% above NH
Chester and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,593±$318Highest
7% above NH
$1,166±$70Lowest
22% below NH
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,369Lowest
11% above NH
$8,233
23% above NH
$8,464Highest
27% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
17.4%±17.6Lowest
NH: 48.2%
54.7%±60.7Highest
NH: 48.2%
19%±72.7
NH: 48.2%
Dunbarton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.8%Highest
NH: 7.2%
3%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
4%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.3%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
95.1%
NH: 72.8%
97.7%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Lowest
6 yrs newer than NH
1990
11 yrs newer than NH
1991Highest
12 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
28% above NH
34 minLowest
25% above NH
35 minHighest
31% above NH
Work from home
22.4%±6.3Highest
NH: 16.8%
12.6%±5.4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
16.4%±5.1
NH: 16.8%
Deerfield 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 #61 of 120 in NH #33 of 120 in NH #90 of 120 in NH
School district Deerfield School District Dunbarton School District Chester School District
High school in town None 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.