Compare towns
Weare vs Hampstead vs Atkinson vs Chester
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).
Hampstead has the most renters (17.9% rent).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
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 | Hampstead | Atkinson | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,170Highest |
9,102 |
7,267 |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4 5% above NH |
45.3±6.1Lowest 5% above NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Hampstead 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% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Atkinson and Hampstead 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% |
44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.7% NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
5.8%±4Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Atkinson and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,271±$17k 19% above NH |
$112,348±$18kLowest 13% above NH |
$146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
| Atkinson 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 |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
$552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
| Atkinson and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$214Highest 3% above NH |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
— |
| Weare and Hampstead 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 |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$6,918 4% above NH |
$8,464 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
1.8% NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
28 minLowest 6% above NH |
35 min 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Weare and Atkinson 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Hampstead School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | — | — |
| 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.