Compare towns
Atkinson vs Chester vs Derry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Atkinson has the most people working from home (21.1%).
Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Derry has the most renters (40.9% rent).
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 | Atkinson | Chester | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267 |
5,300Lowest |
21,339Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
41±3Lowest 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±2.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
14.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
36.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±2.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Derry and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
$91,673±$11kLowest 7% below 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 | $555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
$552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
$391,200±$23kLowest about the NH average |
| Atkinson and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
— | $1,549±$137Highest 4% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918Lowest 4% above NH |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$7,278 9% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±9.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
59.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
29 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
14.2%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Atkinson and Chester 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 | #32 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Chester School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.