Compare towns
Chester vs Danvers vs Derry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Danvers has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Derry has the most affordable homes ($432k 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 | Danvers | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Lowest |
28,098 |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 21% above U.S. |
45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Chester and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Derry and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Danvers 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$19kHighest 76% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$108,944±$7kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Chester and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42k 66% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$432,000±$17kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,547±$138Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464Highest 171% above U.S. |
$6,654Lowest 113% above U.S. |
$8,103 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derry and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Danvers 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 | #91 of 282 in MA | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Lowest |
13.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.