Compare towns
Chester vs Derry vs Nottingham
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).
Nottingham has the most people working from home (22.2%).
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 | Nottingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Lowest |
34,116Highest |
5,357 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
38.8±6.7Lowest 10% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
23.9%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nottingham and Derry 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% |
18.4%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Nottingham 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Derry and Nottingham 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 |
$122,201±$20k 23% above NH |
| Chester and Nottingham 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±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
$457,500±$26k 14% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
$2,068±$1kHighest 39% above NH |
| Nottingham 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 |
$7,319Lowest 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991 12 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1992Highest 13 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
31 minLowest 16% above NH |
34 min 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Nottingham 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 | #15 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Nottingham 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.