Compare towns
Chester 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%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Derry has the youngest population (median age 40.3).
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 | Exeter | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Lowest |
16,151 |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,547±$138Lowest 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 |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$8,103Lowest 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Derry 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% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 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 |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester 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 | Exeter High School | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
13.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.