Compare towns
Nelson 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
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
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 | Nelson | Dunbarton | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
3,097 |
5,300Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 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 | 27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest 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 | $99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% 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 | $340,900±$49kLowest 15% below 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 | $1,203±$243Highest 19% below NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
— |
| Nelson and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Dunbarton and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #33 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Nelson 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 History | 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.