Compare towns
Chester vs Dover vs Eliot vs Derry
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 the highest household income ($142k).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
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 | Eliot | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,300Lowest |
33,364 |
7,146 |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8 21% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
40.3±1.6 4% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Chester 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% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Derry and Chester 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% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 76% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$108,944±$7k 35% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$432,000±$17kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Chester and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,547±$138Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Dover 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. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$8,103 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Eliot 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Dover School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | 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 | 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.