Compare towns
Eliot vs Dunbarton vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Dunbarton has the most affordable homes ($484k median).
Chester has the highest household income ($142k).
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 | Eliot | Dunbarton | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146Highest |
3,097Lowest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
48±3.7 23% above U.S. |
47.2±3.8Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Dunbarton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$124,348±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$142,212±$19kHighest 76% 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 | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$484,100±$33kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$552,300±$42kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Chester and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$8,233 164% above U.S. |
$8,464Highest 171% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
19%±72.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Eliot 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #33 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | 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 |
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.