Compare towns
Newton vs Nelson 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
Newton has the most renters (9.9% rent).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($552k median).
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
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 | Nelson | Chester | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,836 |
648Lowest |
5,300Highest |
3,097 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.8±5.7 10% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Newton 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 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+ | 16%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3 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+ | 37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
| Newton and Chester 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 |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% 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 |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% 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 | $1,683±$96Highest 13% above NH |
$1,203±$243 19% below NH |
— | $1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,124 22% above NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±41.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Newton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #70 of 120 in NH | — | #90 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Nelson School District | Chester School District | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.