Compare towns
Chester vs Durham vs Exeter 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%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Derry has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
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 | Exeter | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,300Lowest |
15,080 |
16,151 |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
| Chester and Exeter 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% |
17%±2.7 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%±4 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% 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 |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$432,000±$17kLowest 7% 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 | — | $1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
| Exeter and Derry 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 |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$8,103Lowest 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Exeter 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | Exeter High School | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
12.1Lowest |
13.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 59 photos → | 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.