Compare towns
Chester vs Deerfield vs Hooksett
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 expensive homes ($552k median).
Deerfield has the most people working from home (22.4%).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Deerfield | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300 |
4,932Lowest |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
42.8±4.2 about the NH average |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| Chester and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±4.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Deerfield and Chester 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% |
17.5%±3.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Deerfield 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% |
47.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$131,563±$10k 33% above NH |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
| Chester and Deerfield 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 |
$421,000±$33k 5% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,593±$318Lowest 7% above NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
| Hooksett and Deerfield 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 |
$7,369 11% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7 NH: 48.2% |
17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hooksett and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
34 min 28% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
22.4%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Deerfield 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 | #61 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Deerfield School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None 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.