Compare towns
Chester vs Durham vs Madbury
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 oldest population (median age 47.2).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300 |
10,681Highest |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury 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% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Chester and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
$112,070±$25kLowest 13% above NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
| Madbury and Chester 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 |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$476,900±$31kLowest 18% above NH |
| Chester and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,574±$759Highest 6% above NH |
| Madbury and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464Lowest 27% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Chester 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% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Chester and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Chester School District | — | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.