Compare towns
Chester vs Dover vs Derry
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 homeowners (97.7%).
Dover has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Derry has the most kids (20.7% 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 | Dover | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Lowest |
33,364 |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Chester 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% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Chester and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Dover 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 |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
| Dover 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 |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$8,103Lowest 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Dover 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% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Dover 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Dover School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Lowest |
13.9Highest |
| 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.