Compare towns
Nottingham vs Chester vs Barnstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nottingham has the most people working from home (22.2%).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($552k median).
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
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 | Nottingham | Chester | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,357Highest |
5,300 |
4,994Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.3% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.7Lowest 10% below NH |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
| Chester and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.9%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
| Nottingham and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.9% NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,201±$20k 23% above NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH |
| Chester and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,500±$26k 14% above NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,068±$1kHighest 39% above NH |
— | $1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
| Nottingham and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,319 10% above NH |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 13 yrs newer than NH |
1991 12 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
31 minLowest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.2%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Nottingham 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 | #15 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Nottingham School District | Chester School District | Barnstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.