Compare towns
Newton vs Chester vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($428k 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.
| Measure | Newton | Chester | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,836 |
5,300Highest |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.8±5.7Highest 10% above NH |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
46.3±2.1Lowest 7% above NH |
| Newton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Chester and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Strafford 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% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Strafford and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $138,487±$29k 40% above NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$122,105±$22kLowest 23% above NH |
| Chester and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $459,500±$18k 14% above NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$427,900±$29kLowest 6% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$96Highest 13% above NH |
— | $1,635±$246Lowest 10% above NH |
| Newton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,124 22% above NH |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±41.8 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 13% above NH |
35 min 31% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Newton 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 | #70 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Chester School District | Strafford 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.