Compare towns

Chester vs Everett vs Derry

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 the most homeowners (97.7%).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Derry has the most affordable homes ($432k 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.

MeasureChesterEverettDerry
People
Population
5,300Lowest
50,045Highest
34,116
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+17.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.2±3.8Highest
21% above U.S.
35.2±1.5Lowest
10% below U.S.
40.3±1.6
4% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.8%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.7%±2.1
U.S.: 22%
Everett and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.4%±4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
11.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.2%±1.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Chester and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
24.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.4%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.3%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Everett and Derry 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.
$85,218±$7kLowest
6% above U.S.
$108,944±$7k
35% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$552,300±$42k
66% above U.S.
$610,000±$23kHighest
83% above U.S.
$432,000±$17kLowest
30% above U.S.
Everett and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$2,076±$69Highest
47% above U.S.
$1,547±$138Lowest
9% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,464Highest
171% above U.S.
$4,880Lowest
56% above U.S.
$8,103
160% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
19%±72.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.6%±9
U.S.: 51.1%
Everett and Derry 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%
14.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
70.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
33% above U.S.
35 min
33% above U.S.
31 minLowest
17% above U.S.
Work from home
16.4%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Chester and Derry 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 #264 of 282 in MA #60 of 120 in NH
School district Chester School District Everett Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District
High school in town None in town Everett High Pinkerton Academy
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.1Lowest
13.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.