Compare towns

Newton vs Ogunquit 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

Newton has the most affordable homes ($460k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Chester has the most kids (19.6% under 18).

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.

MeasureNewtonOgunquitChester
People
Population
4,836
1,379Lowest
5,300Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.8±5.7
23% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
47.2±3.8Lowest
21% above U.S.
Kids under 18
17.1%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
Chester and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.4%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.7%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
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
72% above U.S.
$114,259±$56kLowest
42% above U.S.
$142,212±$19kHighest
76% above U.S.
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±$18kLowest
38% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$552,300±$42k
66% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,683±$96
19% above U.S.
— —
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,124
160% above U.S.
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
$8,464Highest
171% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62%±41.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
19%±72.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Newton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
97.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
15% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
35 minHighest
33% above U.S.
Work from home
18.1%±5.2
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.4%±5.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #70 of 120 in NH — #90 of 120 in NH
School district Sanborn Regional School District — Chester School District
High school in town None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.