Compare towns
Chester vs Deerfield vs Wakefield
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Wakefield has the most affordable homes ($323k 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 | Deerfield | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300 |
4,932Lowest |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
42.8±4.2Lowest about the NH average |
49.4±4.1Highest 14% above NH |
| Wakefield and Chester 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% |
18.7%±3.9Lowest 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%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.5%±3.5 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wakefield and Deerfield 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% |
26.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.8 NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Chester and Deerfield 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 44% above NH |
$131,563±$10k 33% above NH |
$100,976±$11kLowest about the NH average |
| 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 |
$322,800±$43kLowest 20% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,593±$318Highest 7% above NH |
$1,375±$434Lowest 8% below NH |
| Deerfield and Wakefield 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 |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
17.4%±17.6 NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Chester and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
7.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above NH |
34 minLowest 28% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
22.4%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±9.3Lowest 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 | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Deerfield School District | Wakefield 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.