Compare towns
Chester vs Derry vs Dunbarton 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 highest household income ($142k).
Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
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 | Derry | Dunbarton | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,300 |
34,116Highest |
3,097Lowest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Dunbarton 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% |
20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Dunbarton 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% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Dunbarton 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Derry 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 |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Chester and Dunbarton 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 |
$484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Chester and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
| Hooksett 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 |
$8,233 23% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Dunbarton and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Chester and Derry 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Dunbarton School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.