Compare towns
Chester vs Durham vs Derry vs Gilmanton
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Derry has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Gilmanton has the most affordable homes ($364k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Derry | Gilmanton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,300 |
15,080 |
34,116Highest |
4,026Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
45±4.4 4% above NH |
| Chester and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.5%±6.4 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Chester and Gilmanton 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% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$117,088±$9k 18% above NH |
| Chester and Durham 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 |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$363,700±$42kLowest 10% below NH |
| Chester and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,547±$138Highest 4% above NH |
$1,125±$421Lowest 25% below NH |
| Derry and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464 27% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,103 22% above NH |
$6,235Lowest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
57.1%±100 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Gilmanton 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
99.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
33 min 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
8.3%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH | #25 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Gilmanton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | Pinkerton Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Lowest |
13.9Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.