Compare towns
Weare vs South Hampton vs Chester vs Dunbarton
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 people working from home (22.8%).
South Hampton has the most expensive homes ($661k median).
Chester has the most homeowners (97.7%).
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
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 | South Hampton | Chester | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,170Highest |
984Lowest |
5,300 |
3,097 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4 5% above NH |
45.1±5.3Lowest 4% above NH |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Chester 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% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton 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% |
16.5%±1.4 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Dunbarton and Chester 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% |
52.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
| Chester and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,271±$17kLowest 19% above NH |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
| South Hampton 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 |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
$484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$214 3% above NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
— | $1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
| South Hampton 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 |
$9,109Highest 37% above NH |
$8,464 27% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Weare and Dunbarton 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% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
28 minLowest 6% above NH |
35 min 31% above NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Weare and South Hampton 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 | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | South Hampton School District | Chester School District | Dunbarton 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.