Compare towns
Chester vs Deering 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Deering has the most affordable homes ($310k median).
Strafford has the youngest population (median age 46.3).
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 | Deering | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Highest |
1,938Lowest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
48.8±5.7Highest 13% above NH |
46.3±2.1Lowest 7% above NH |
| Deering and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Chester and Strafford 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% |
23.9%±1.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Deering and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Strafford 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 44% above NH |
$101,250±$16kLowest about the NH average |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
| Chester and Strafford 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 |
$309,900±$27kLowest 23% below NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,306±$116Lowest 12% below NH |
$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
| Strafford and Deering 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 |
$6,223 7% below NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
23.9%±27.6 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Deering 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% |
14.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minLowest 31% above NH |
40 minHighest 49% above NH |
36 min 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
10%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Chester and Strafford 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 | — | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | — | Strafford School District |
| High school 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.