Compare towns
Chester vs Derry vs Barrington
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 highest household income ($142k).
Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Barrington 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 | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Lowest |
34,116Highest |
9,489 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington 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% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Chester and Barrington 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% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Derry and Barrington 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 |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$110,323±$14k 11% above NH |
| Chester and Barrington 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 |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$399,100±$30kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
$1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
| Barrington 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 |
$8,103 22% above NH |
$7,121Lowest 7% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
63.1%±25.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Barrington and Derry 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% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
30 minLowest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±4.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Barrington 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #65 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Barrington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.9 |
— |
| 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.