Compare towns
South Hampton vs Chester vs Dunbarton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Hampton has the most expensive homes ($661k median).
Chester has the most homeowners (97.7%).
Dunbarton has the most affordable homes ($484k 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 | South Hampton | Chester | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 984Lowest |
5,300Highest |
3,097 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3Lowest 4% above NH |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Chester 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% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Dunbarton 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%±4 NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Dunbarton and Chester 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% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
| Chester and Dunbarton 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±$19k 44% above NH |
$124,348±$21kLowest 26% 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±$42k 37% above NH |
$484,100±$33kLowest 20% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
— | $1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,109Highest 37% above NH |
$8,464 27% above NH |
$8,233Lowest 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Dunbarton and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest 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 | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | South Hampton School District | Chester School District | Dunbarton 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.