Compare towns
Chester vs Derry vs Hampton Falls
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 affordable homes ($432k median).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k 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 | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300 |
34,116Highest |
2,328Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
| Hampton Falls 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% |
19.1%±5.6Lowest 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% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Falls 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% |
54.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| 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±$19k 44% above NH |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
| Hampton Falls 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 |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
$1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
| Hampton Falls 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 |
$8,103Lowest 22% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Hampton Falls 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% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% 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 |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
31 minLowest 16% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Falls 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 | — |
| School district | Chester School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Hampton Falls 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.