Compare towns
Chester vs Dover vs Wilder
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 most homeowners (97.7%).
Dover has the youngest population (median age 36.9).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300 |
33,364Highest |
3,087Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 21% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
| Chester and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Chester and Dover 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%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Dover 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±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Dover and Wilder 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. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Wilder 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs 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. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — |
| School district | Chester School District | Dover School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.