Compare towns
Chester vs Derry vs Goffstown
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Goffstown has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
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 | Goffstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Lowest |
34,116Highest |
18,513 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
41.3±3.1 5% below NH |
| Chester and Goffstown 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% |
16%±2.5Lowest 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%±4 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Goffstown 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% NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$113,958±$12k 15% above NH |
| Chester and Goffstown 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 |
$377,400±$20kLowest 6% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,547±$138Highest 4% above NH |
$1,231±$161Lowest 17% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$8,103 22% above NH |
$6,941Lowest 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
58.1%±20Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Goffstown 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% |
6.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
28 minLowest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±2.2Lowest 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 | #35 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Goffstown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pinkerton Academy | Goffstown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.9Highest |
12.6Lowest |
| 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.