Compare towns
Weare vs Mapleton vs Hampstead vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Weare has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Mapleton | Hampstead | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,170Highest |
1,884Lowest |
9,102 |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±4 17% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
47.2±3.8Highest 21% above U.S. |
| 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%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Weare and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampstead and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampstead and Mapleton 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 46% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
$142,212±$19kHighest 76% above U.S. |
| Chester and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,300±$26k 19% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$521,100±$45k 57% above U.S. |
$552,300±$42kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Chester and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$214Highest 9% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
— |
| Weare and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,272 101% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$8,464 171% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
19%±72.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Weare and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
35 min 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Weare and Hampstead 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 | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Hampstead 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 History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.