Compare towns
Weare vs Chester vs Litchfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Weare has the most affordable homes ($396k median).
Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Litchfield has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Weare | Chester | Litchfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,170Highest |
5,300Lowest |
8,499 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4 5% above NH |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
43.1±1.7Lowest about the NH average |
| Chester and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4 NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Litchfield and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Chester and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2% NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,271±$17kLowest 19% above NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
$162,036±$11kHighest 64% above NH |
| Litchfield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$485,000±$18k 20% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$214Lowest 3% above NH |
— | $2,138±$406Highest 43% above NH |
| Litchfield and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$8,273 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
81.5%±38.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Litchfield and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4% NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Lowest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
35 min 31% above NH |
29 minLowest 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Weare and Litchfield 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 | #84 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH | #53 of 120 in NH |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Chester School District | Litchfield School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | None in town | Campbell High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | 11.4 |
| 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.