Compare towns
Newton vs Wolfeboro 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 affordable homes ($460k median).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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.
| Measure | Newton | Wolfeboro | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,836Lowest |
6,571Highest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.8±5.7 10% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
47.2±3.8Lowest 9% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Chester and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 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 |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below 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±$18kLowest 14% above NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
| Chester and Wolfeboro 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 |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,124 22% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±41.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7 NH: 48.2% |
| 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% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.