Compare towns
Chester vs Eliot vs Strafford
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Eliot has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
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 | Eliot | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300 |
7,146Highest |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8 21% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Chester 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% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Chester and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Chester 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. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22k 51% above U.S. |
| Chester and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Chester and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,635±$246Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Strafford 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. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$6,086 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Eliot 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 33% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Eliot 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.