Compare towns
Chester vs Auburn vs Raymond vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most homeowners (97.7%).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Raymond has the most affordable homes ($370k median).
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 | Chester | Auburn | Raymond | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,300 |
6,119 |
10,900Highest |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
43.4±3.8Lowest about the NH average |
46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
| Chester and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
18%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Chester and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Strafford and Raymond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
26.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$104,597±$10kLowest 6% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
| Auburn and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$370,400±$17kLowest 8% below NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| Auburn and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,376±$196Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
| Auburn and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$6,146 8% below NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
24.1%±11.9 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.7% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
85.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above NH |
28 minLowest 4% above NH |
30 min 12% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn 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 | #90 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | #96 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Auburn School District | Raymond School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Raymond High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
— |
| 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.