Compare towns
Chester vs Derry vs Mapleton vs Raymond
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Mapleton | Raymond |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,300 |
34,116Highest |
1,884Lowest |
10,900 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 21% above U.S. |
40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
43.4±3.8 12% above U.S. |
| Chester and Raymond 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%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Derry 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% |
18.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mapleton and Raymond 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Lowest 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% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derry and Mapleton 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. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$104,597±$10k 30% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$432,000±$17k 30% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$370,400±$17k 11% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,547±$138Highest 9% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,376±$196 about the U.S. average |
| Derry and Raymond 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,146 97% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.1%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #96 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Raymond School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | Raymond High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.9Highest |
— | 11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.