Compare towns
Strafford vs Dunbarton 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
Strafford has the most renters (6.5% rent).
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
Chester has the highest household income ($142k).
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 | Strafford | Dunbarton | Chester | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,306 |
3,097Lowest |
5,300Highest |
4,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
| Dunbarton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH |
| Chester and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
| Chester and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
— | $1,395±$75 6% below NH |
| Strafford and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,086 9% below NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
35 min 31% above NH |
31 minLowest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Chester and Strafford 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Dunbarton School District | Chester School District | Barnstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.