Compare towns

Newton vs Sutton 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

Newton has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).

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.

MeasureNewtonSuttonChester
People
Population
4,836
2,239Lowest
5,300Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.7%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+7.7%
NH: +4.6%
+9.7%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
47.8±5.7
10% above NH
48.1±4.1Highest
11% above NH
47.2±3.8Lowest
9% above NH
Sutton 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%
20.5%±3.8Highest
NH: 18.2%
19.6%±3.7
NH: 18.2%
Sutton 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%
21.6%±5.9Highest
NH: 20.1%
17.4%±4
NH: 20.1%
Sutton 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%
44.3%Highest
NH: 40.6%
41.1%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.7%±2.5
NH: 6%
4.9%±3.6Highest
NH: 6%
4.4%±2.1Lowest
NH: 6%
Sutton 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
$130,313±$31kLowest
32% above NH
$142,212±$19kHighest
44% 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
$362,600±$16kLowest
10% below NH
$552,300±$42kHighest
37% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,683±$96Highest
13% above NH
$1,656±$614Lowest
11% above NH
—
Newton and Sutton 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
$7,652Lowest
15% above NH
$8,464Highest
27% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62%±41.8Highest
NH: 48.2%
27.6%±47.2
NH: 48.2%
19%±72.7Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Newton and Sutton 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%
4.8%
NH: 7.2%
4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.1%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
95.7%
NH: 72.8%
97.7%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
4 yrs newer than NH
1971Lowest
8 yrs older than NH
1991Highest
12 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
13% above NH
29 minLowest
10% above NH
35 minHighest
31% above NH
Work from home
18.1%±5.2Highest
NH: 16.8%
14.8%±5.6Lowest
NH: 16.8%
16.4%±5.1
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
School district Sanborn Regional School District Kearsarge Regional School District Chester School District
High school in town None in town Kearsarge Regional High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.4
—
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.