Compare towns
Gilmanton vs Chester vs Dunbarton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gilmanton has the most affordable homes ($364k median).
Chester has the most people working from home (16.4%).
Dunbarton has the most renters (4.9% rent).
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 | Gilmanton | Chester | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,026 |
5,300Highest |
3,097Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±4.4Lowest 4% above NH |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% 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 | 17.5%±6.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Dunbarton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Dunbarton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.8 NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest 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 | $117,088±$9kLowest 18% above NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
| Chester and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,700±$42kLowest 10% below NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$484,100±$33k 20% 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 | $1,125±$421Lowest 25% below NH |
— | $1,166±$70Highest 22% below NH |
| Dunbarton and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,235Lowest 6% below NH |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Gilmanton and Dunbarton 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% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 99.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
97.7% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 23% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 8.3%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Chester and Dunbarton 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 | #25 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Gilmanton School District | Chester School District | Dunbarton 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.