Compare towns
Chester vs Derry vs Mason
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).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
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 | Mason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300 |
34,116Highest |
1,451Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
| Chester and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Mason 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% |
15.6%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Chester and Mason 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% |
39.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest 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±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$111,090±$3k 12% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$384,000±$21kLowest 5% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
| Mason and Derry 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 |
$7,049Lowest 6% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Mason 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% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% 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 |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above NH |
31 minLowest 16% above NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Mason 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 | Mason 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.