Compare towns
Chester vs Derry vs Hooksett vs Pelham
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 renters (29.8% rent).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Pelham has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Hooksett | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,300Lowest |
34,116Highest |
15,057 |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
| Chester and Pelham 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%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham and Derry 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%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Chester and Hooksett 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% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 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 |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
| Chester and Pelham 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±$17k 7% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham 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 |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
| Hooksett and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464 27% above NH |
$8,103 22% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham 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% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
30 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Hooksett School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.9Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| 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.