Compare towns
Newton vs South Hampton vs Chester vs East Kingston
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 affordable homes ($460k median).
South Hampton has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Chester has the most homeowners (97.7%).
East Kingston has the most people working from home (24.1%).
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 | South Hampton | Chester | East Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,836 |
984Lowest |
5,300Highest |
2,311 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.8±5.7 10% above NH |
45.1±5.3Lowest 4% above NH |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
51.7±8.9Highest 19% above NH |
| East Kingston and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
27.1%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| East Kingston 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% |
52.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
4.8%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| East Kingston 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 |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
$138,194±$38kLowest 40% above NH |
| South Hampton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $459,500±$18kLowest 14% above NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
$575,500±$56k 43% above NH |
| South Hampton and East Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$96Lowest 13% above NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
— | — |
| South Hampton and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,124Lowest 22% above NH |
$9,109 37% above NH |
$8,464 27% above NH |
$9,604Highest 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±41.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Newton and South Hampton 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% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
14.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
96.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1991 12 yrs newer than NH |
1994Highest 15 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
28 minLowest 6% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
32 min 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24.1%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| East Kingston and Newton 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 | — |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | South Hampton School District | Chester School District | East Kingston 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 | 9 photos → |
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.