What stands out worked out from the figures below

South Hampton has the most expensive homes ($661k median).

Chester has the most affordable homes ($552k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	South Hampton	Chester
People
Population	984Lowest	5,300Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6%	+9.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	45.1±5.3Lowest 4% above NH	47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH
	Chester and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2%	19.6%±3.7Lowest 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+	16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1%	17.4%±4Highest NH: 20.1%
	Chester and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.4%Highest NH: 40.6%	41.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6%	4.4%±2.1Highest NH: 6%
	Chester and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH	$142,212±$19kLowest 44% 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	$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH	$552,300±$42kLowest 37% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,889±$489 27% above NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,109Highest 37% above NH	$8,464Lowest 27% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30%±40.8Highest NH: 48.2%	19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2%
	South Hampton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2%	4%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	97.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH	1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 6% above NH	35 minHighest 31% above NH
Work from home	17%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8%	16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8%
	South Hampton 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	—	#90 of 120 in NH
School district	South Hampton School District	Chester School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.