Compare towns
Chester vs Brentwood 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
Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Brentwood has the most people working from home (23.1%).
Derry has the most renters (29.8% 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 | Chester | Brentwood | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300 |
4,641Lowest |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
43.8±3.1 about the NH average |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
| Chester and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Brentwood and Derry 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% |
21.8%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Brentwood and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% NH: 40.6% |
49%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Derry and Chester 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 |
$165,509±$23kHighest 67% above NH |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
| Brentwood 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±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$528,100±$75k 31% above NH |
$432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
| Chester and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
$1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
| Brentwood and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464 27% above NH |
$9,713Highest 46% above NH |
$8,103Lowest 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
| Brentwood and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
96% NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991 12 yrs newer than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
28 minLowest 4% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Brentwood 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 | #16 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Brentwood School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.