Compare towns
Chester vs Derry vs Eliot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the highest household income ($142k).
Derry has the youngest population (median age 40.3).
Eliot has the shortest commute (23 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 | Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Lowest |
34,116Highest |
7,146 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8 21% above U.S. |
40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Eliot 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Derry and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 76% above U.S. |
$108,944±$7k 35% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$432,000±$17kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
| Chester and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,547±$138Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464Highest 171% above U.S. |
$8,103 160% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Eliot 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 | #19 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Chester School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.