Compare towns
Chester vs Derry vs Milford
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 homeowners (97.7%).
Derry has the most renters (40.9% rent).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Derry | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Lowest |
21,339Highest |
16,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
41±3 5% below NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
| Chester and Derry 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% |
19.9%±2.8 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Chester and Milford 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% |
36.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
7.2%±2.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3Lowest 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±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$91,673±$11kLowest 7% below NH |
$97,768±$14k about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$391,200±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,549±$137Lowest 4% above NH |
$1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
| Milford and Derry 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 |
$7,278Lowest 9% above NH |
$7,522 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±9.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
59.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
29 min 10% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.2%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Chester and Milford 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | — | Milford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7 |
| 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.