Compare towns
Chester vs Durham vs Weare
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).
Weare has the most affordable homes ($396k 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 | Weare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Lowest |
15,080Highest |
9,170 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
45.6±4 5% above NH |
| Chester and Weare 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% |
22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Weare 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% |
13.5%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Chester and Weare 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% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$118,271±$17kLowest 19% 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 |
$396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| 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 |
$1,541±$214Highest 3% above NH |
| Weare 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 |
$6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Weare 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 | #84 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Oyster River Coop School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | John Stark Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 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.