Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Chester vs Barnstead vs Sutton
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 most expensive homes ($552k median).
Barnstead has the youngest population (median age 42.8).
Sutton has the shortest commute (29 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 | Dunbarton | Chester | Barnstead | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,097 |
5,300Highest |
4,994 |
2,239Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7 11% above NH |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
48.1±4.1Highest 11% above NH |
| Sutton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Sutton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6 NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH |
$130,313±$31k 32% above NH |
| Chester and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$362,600±$16k 10% below NH |
| Chester and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
— | $1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,656±$614Highest 11% above NH |
| Sutton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233 23% above NH |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$7,652 15% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Dunbarton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 25% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
29 minLowest 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Chester and Sutton 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Chester School District | Barnstead School District | Kearsarge Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.