Compare towns
Chester vs Derry vs Durham vs Auburn
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 oldest population (median age 47.2).
Derry has the most affordable homes ($432k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,300Lowest |
34,116Highest |
15,080 |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
| Chester and Auburn 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Chester 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%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Chester and Derry 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% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
| Auburn and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
$432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
| Auburn and Chester 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 |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
| Auburn and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464 27% above NH |
$8,103 22% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,092Lowest 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Derry 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% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pinkerton Academy | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.9Highest |
12.3Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.