Compare towns
Warner vs Chester vs Webster vs Bristol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Warner has the oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Webster has the most people working from home (17.1%).
Bristol has the most affordable homes ($258k 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 | Warner | Chester | Webster | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,959 |
5,300Highest |
2,227Lowest |
3,273 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.7±4 about the NH average |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
44.7±7.6 3% above NH |
42.7±5.7Lowest about the NH average |
| Chester and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±8 NH: 18.2% |
24.3%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bristol and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±3.5 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±1.3 NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bristol and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
30.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2 NH: 6% |
| Warner and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,022±$18k 5% below NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$107,171±$14k 8% above NH |
$78,438±$10kLowest 21% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,100±$22k 12% below NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$338,500±$30k 16% below NH |
$258,300±$63kLowest 36% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,219±$123Lowest 18% below NH |
— | $1,396±$622Highest 6% below NH |
$1,310±$97 12% below NH |
| Webster and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,650 15% above NH |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$6,021 10% below NH |
$4,162Lowest 38% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.7%±21.3 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
53.6%±71Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Webster and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.4% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.6% NH: 7.2% |
10.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
96% NH: 72.8% |
69.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
31 min 14% above NH |
28 minLowest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.6%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
17.1%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Webster and Warner 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 | — | #79 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kearsarge Regional School District | Chester School District | Merrimack Valley School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Newfound Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.5 |
| 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.