Compare towns
Chester vs Derry vs Hooksett vs Plaistow
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 most expensive homes ($552k median).
Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k 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 | Hooksett | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,300Lowest |
34,116Highest |
15,057 |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Plaistow 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% |
17.4%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest 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±$7k 10% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
| Chester and Hooksett 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 |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
| Plaistow and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$8,103 22% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$7,194 8% 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% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow 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% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Hooksett School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.9Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| 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.